Bloomshed's Pride & Prejudice
Next date: Wednesday, 30 July 2025 | 07:30 PM
to 08:30 PM
Presented by Darebin Arts Speakeasy
As part of the 2025 VCE Theatre Studies Playlist
A love story in a housing crisis
‘What does it matter which one he chooses? We have a horde of them! Any one of them will do!’ – Mrs Bennet
Award-winning theatre company Bloomshed (Animal Farm, Paradise Lost) brings us a bold new take on Jane Austen’s insatiable classic. Written with their signature wit from the depths of the housing crisis, this raucous production flips the table on the Bennett sisters’ quest for love and security through a mercenary marriage.
In the plush ballrooms of high society, Mrs Bennet sees too well the value of a strategic union. But her five daughters all have ambitions of their own. Jane and Elizabeth want to marry for love (whatever that means). Mary’s stuck in a goth phase, Lydia’s hot for the local militia, and Kitty is... well, we don't need to talk about Kitty. With the cost of living rising, and Mr Bennet played by a potted monstera, how will the Bennet family hold onto their precarious position on the property ladder?
Following sell-out seasons, critical acclaim and a slew of awards, Bloomshed returns to Darebin with a searing social satire dressed as a period drama, wrestling with the function of ‘love’ in the twenty-first century.
‘Playing with Austen’s original, with the Romantic Comedy, and with the form of reality television, we’re looking at the decay of “Love” as a political category. How the institution of marriage emerges not as an artful expression of human passion, but as a calculated ritual of ownership. 'Can we redeem actual, radical, really-existing “love”?
Can we separate property and marriage? And can the romantic comedy save us from social bankruptcy? - James Jackson, Co-creator
For accessible and wheelchair seating, contact: ticketing@darebin.vic.gov.au.
Buy Tickets
School Bookings
If you are a school group you can book online at your convenience, please select the seats you want and choose the Student and Teacher ticket types. Upon checkout you will receive a confirmation email which is your invoice.
If you require an invoice before payment (via Credit Card) please email ticketing@darebin.vic.gov.au
Please note we only take payment via VISA or Mastercard
Ticket Prices
$30 Student | $38 Teacher (10 Students or less)
One complimentary Teacher ticket per 10 students
Running Time
Approximately 60mins, no interval
Content Warnings
This production contains coarse language, smoke and haze effects, strobe effects and loud noises.
Age Suitablility
Suitable for audiences aged 12+
Special Performances
Preview Performance: Wed 30 July, 7.30pm
Opening Night Performance: Thu 31 July, 7.30pm
Post-show Artist Talk: Wed 6 August, 7.30pm
Auslan Interpreted Performance: Thu 7 August, 7.30pm
Creative Team
Created and Performed by Bloomshed
Performed by: Laura Aldous, Elizabeth Brennan, Syd Brisbane, Anna Louey, Lauren Swain, Sam Nix, and James Malcher.
Set and Costume Design: Samantha Hastings and Savanna Wegman
Lighting Designer: John Collopy
Sound Designer: Justin Gardam
Stage and Production Manager: Jacinta Anderson
Creative Producer: James Jackson
About Bloomshed
Bloomshed are an award-winning group of Australian artists who create cutting edge political satire, energising classic texts with physical comedy and outrageous dance breaks. From immersive installations to radical re-imaginings of classic texts, they mix big political ideas with entertaining and accessible storytelling. Since 2012 they have created twelve new devised and adapted works, including The Importance of Being Earnest, We’re Banking On It, A Dodgeball Named Desire (fortyfivedownstairs), Animal Farm, Paradise Lost (Darebin Arts Speakeasy), Bad News, The Nose, The Market, and The Government Inspector.
Their work has won a slue of Green Room Awards including Best Production for Animal Farm and Paradise Lost, and nominations in every category.
Their production of Animal Farm was selected for the VCE Theatre Studies Plays and won the Drama Victoria Award for Best Performance in 2023.
Press Quotes
‘Melbourne’s indie theatre scene at its inventive best’ - The Age
‘Bloomshed has perfected a style of avant-garde ensemble theatre in which creative irreverence is wedding to a reverence for the spirit of the original’ - The Age
“Political theatre dredged from the crisis of late capitalism”- Sydney Morning Herald
‘The satire is pointed, the comedy is hilarious and the entire team spin around the stage like clockwork. The audience is in the hands of expert theatre makers.’ - Theatre First
‘The most innovative, bold, daring and creative theatre markers around’ - My Melbourne Arts
This project has received additional support from Geelong Arts Centre and Creative Victoria.
When
-
Wednesday, 30 July 2025 | 07:30 PM
- 08:30 PM
-
Thursday, 31 July 2025 | 07:30 PM
- 08:30 PM
-
Friday, 01 August 2025 | 11:00 AM
- 12:00 PM
-
Friday, 01 August 2025 | 07:30 PM
- 08:30 PM
-
Saturday, 02 August 2025 | 07:30 PM
- 08:30 PM
-
Sunday, 03 August 2025 | 05:00 PM
- 06:00 PM
-
Wednesday, 06 August 2025 | 11:00 AM
- 12:00 PM
-
Wednesday, 06 August 2025 | 07:30 PM
- 08:30 PM
-
Thursday, 07 August 2025 | 11:00 AM
- 12:00 PM
-
Thursday, 07 August 2025 | 07:30 PM
- 08:30 PM
-
Friday, 08 August 2025 | 07:30 PM
- 08:30 PM
-
Saturday, 09 August 2025 | 07:30 PM
- 08:30 PM
-
Sunday, 10 August 2025 | 05:00 PM
- 06:00 PM
Location
Darebin Arts Centre, 401 Bell Street, Preston, 3072, View Map
-37.7455556,144.9980556
401 Bell Street ,
Preston 3072
Darebin Arts Centre
401 Bell Street ,
Preston 3072
Bloomshed's Pride & Prejudice