By Jane's Hand
​A whimsical window into the magnificent mind of Jane Austen
Created by Emma O'Brien with Olivia O'Brien
Crafted from the letters of Jane Austen and her novel Pride and Prejudice with songs from Austen's personal music collection
About
By Jane’s Hand, went from the stage (2023) to the page, (published by Currency Press 2024) and was on 2024 VCE Theatre Studies Playlist with a return season at La Mama Courthouse, Carlton in 2024.
By Jane’s Hand, a whimsical window into the magnificent of mind of Jane Austen, is part surreal Regency Jukebox Musical, and part shrine to the author’s creativity. It challenges myths of Jane Austen and explores her drive to create. Through her letters it reveals some of her lesser-known sides. Jane Austen’s life was censored by the patriarchy and romanticised by popular culture. Of the 3,000 missives written by Jane, only 161 survive. Why did her family burn her letters? How and why did she create?
The play attracts a broad audience and has received excellent reviews from diverse critics.
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“So skilful is the seamless interweaving of the text and of its performance, that By Jane's Hand is delightful and insightful. It is all so well done that it disguises quite how well done it is.” Michael Brindley, Stage Whispers
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By Jane’s Hand offers a lively insight into the life and mind of Jane Austen”
Cameron Woodhead, The Age
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“For lovers of Jane Austen, this piece offered an entertaining insight into her character and characters. For music lovers, it was an exploration of the music of Jane Austen’s time performed beautifully by a trio of talented musicians and vocalists. And for theatre lovers it was a well-crafted piece where all elements came together in a wonderful tribute to the talent and wit of Jane Austen.”
Beth Spencer, Theatre Now
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By Jane’s Hand invites you to immerse yourself in Jane’s magnificent mind and maybe to discover more.
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Script published by Currency Press
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Sound track available on all major streaming services and soundcloud
The Play
‘By Jane’s Hand’ is in three seamless Acts with no interval
RUN TIME is Approximately 55 mins
The setting is inside the mind of Jane Austen in a ‘Surreal Regency’ dreamscape within a music parlour room. Instruments include, keyboard, harp, violin, Appalachian dulcimer, and Shruti Box.
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ACT ONE - DEAR CASSANDRA
Drawing on the text from Jane’s letters to her sister Cassandra we evoke being inside the magnificent mind of Jane Austen.
The letters are shared by all three Janes interspersed with songs. The singing/music at times supports the tales being told, pre-empts, or contradicts them. The letters provide the audience with an insight into perhaps lesser know sides of Jane Austen, and we honour the Austen family tradition of acting out letters in mini plays within the play.
ACT TWO – DEAR ELIZABETH
In this Act we move from the letters to Jane the author.
The characters of Pride and Prejudice come to life as the three Janes take turns evoking and playing the roles of Elizabeth, Mr Darcy, Mr Collins, Mr and Mrs Bennett, and Lady Catherine. We explore Jane’s creative process as she ‘puppeteers’ her much loved characters before our eyes re-living the ‘classic moments’ of her most famous novel. At times the Janes compete with one another to ‘lead ‘ each character, they even become totally absorbed in playing the more grandiose absurd stereotypes. Once again music plays a vital role throughout this act.
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ACT THREE - DEAR JANE
We return to Jane’s letters to Cassandra and to Jane’s declining health.
We still catch glimpses of her acerbic wit until the end, mixed with the great loss of such a talented life cut short. The music is woven through underpinning the narrative and guiding the final pacing of the piece.
