Play name
The Watsons
By Laura Wade; based on the unfinished novel by Jane Austen
Director and Contact Details
Playing dates
Thursday 2nd to Saturday 11th July (including the charity night); There will be a matinee and evening performances on Saturday 4th July. No performance on Sunday 5th July.
Get-in and Strike
Get-in: Sunday, 14th June; Strike: Sunday, 12th July.
Venue
Bromley Little Theatre Main House
Audition
Sunday, 8th February at 1.00pm. If you are interested in auditioning, please contact the director to request a script which must be returned before the audition.
About the play
What happens when the writer loses the plot? Emma Watson is 19 and new in town. She’s been cut off by her rich aunt and dumped back in the family home. Emma and her sisters must marry, fast.
If not, they face poverty, spinsterhood, or worse: an eternity with their boorish brother and his awful wife. Luckily there are plenty of potential suitors to dance with, from flirtatious Tom Musgrave to castle-owning Lord Osborne, who’s as awkward as he is rich. So far so familiar.
But there’s a problem: Jane Austen didn’t finish the story. Who will write Emma’s happy ending now? Based on her incomplete novel, this sparklingly witty play looks under the bonnet of Jane Austen and asks: What can characters do when their author abandons them?
The Watsons had its world premiere performance at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester, on 3rd November 2018. It transferred to the Menier Chocolate Factory, London, and had its first performance on 20th September 2019.
‘Laura Wade transforms Jane Austen’s unfinished novel into an expertly crafted reflection on writing fiction… clever, witty and resourceful.’ The Stage
‘A new twist on a great unfinished work… Wade ingeniously does the same with Jane Austen as Pirandello did with his characters in search of an author.’ Evening Standard
‘One of the play’s many pleasures is its capacity to endlessly take us by surprise. We go in expecting a literary exercise and come out having seen a philosophical comedy.’ The Guardian
‘Glorious new meta-satire… gleefully unruly and caustically self-mocking. There’s probably not a more fun take on Austen’s unfinished novel.’ Time Out
Time
1804 (and beyond?)
Location
The Watsons’ house and various locations in a small country town somewhere in Surrey.
Style and Genre
Laura Wade’s The Watsons is a stylish existential comedy, which blends a Regency period drama with sharp meta-theatre. Beginning as a faithful Austen adaptation, it breaks the frame when a mysterious maid appears causing characters to rebel and the story to rewrite itself turning a Regency romance into an hilarious battle over fate, authorship and free will.
Characters
17 characters (8m, 9f) with ages ranging from 10 to 70+. Casting will be diverse – anyone can audition for the appropriate roles.
The Watson Family
Emma Watson Late teens–early 20’s (described as being 19); intelligent, poised, quietly determined.
The heroine newly returned after being cut off by her aunt. Witty, resourceful, searching for her own happy ending, whilst navigating the social pressures and expectations of the early 19th century. LARGE role
Elizabeth Watson Mid 20’s–early 30’; sensible, with a dry sense of humour.
Emma’s practical older sister. Practical, caring and resigned to spinsterhood. Acts as a maternal figure. MEDIUM role.
Margaret Watson Late teens–early 20’s; romantic, impulsive.
The romantic middle sister. Tender-hearted, dramatic, eager for love. MEDIUM role.
Robert Watson 30’s–40’s: insensitive, socially ambitious.
The boorish elder brother. Blunt, self-important, unconcerned with his sisters’ anxieties and needs. MEDIUM role.
Mrs Robert Watson 30’s–40’s; formidable, socially calculating.
Robert’s social-climbing wife. Bossy, fashion-obsessed, constantly reminding others of their inferior status. MEDIUM role
Mr Watson (Father) 50’s–70’s; frail but dignified. Note: This role could be shared by more than one actor.
The elderly, ailing patriarch. Largely bedridden, emblematic of the family’s financial worries. SMALL role.
Nanny (the family retainer) 50’s–70’s; outspoken, wryly political, warm but blunt.
The long‑serving nurse to the Watson children, now more a fixture of the household than a servant. Outspoken with Marxist leanings, provides comic commentary on Regency society. SMALL role
Laura/The Maid Mid 30’s–50; the playwright turned meta‑theatrical narrator. Witty and philosophical.
Laura Wade herself onstage as a maid. Breaks the fourth wall, challenges characters on authorial control. LARGE role
The Osborne Household
Lord Osborne 20’s–30’s; socially inept, privileged.
A wealthy but awkward suitor for Emma. Earnest but ill at ease in society. Would rather be at home in his castle than at a ball. MEDIUM role.
Lady Osborne Mid 40’s–60’s; arrogant, domineering, protective.
Lord Osborne’s imperious mother. Obsessed with rank and propriety. Fiercely protective of her son’s status. A commanding presence. MEDIUM role.
Miss Osborne Late teens–30’s; elegant and aloof.
Lord Osborne’s unmarried sister. Fashionable, finely schooled in manners, and razor‑edged in her social instincts. SMALL role
Mr Edwards 40’s–60’s; genial and gossipy, like his wife.
Gentleman neighbour invited to the Watson gatherings. Polite but curious about Emma’s situation and her sudden return to the community. SMALL role.
Mrs Edwards 40’s–60’s; genial and gossipy, like her husband.
Mrs Edwards is a keen observer of manners. Witty, fond of matchmaking. Both Mr and Mrs Edwards are well-meaning, but they like to know everyone’s business. Great comic timing essential for both roles. SMALL role
Clergy, Wards, and Suitors
Mr Howard Mid 20’s–mid 40’s; kind and principled.
The kindly local clergyman. Gentle, earnest, a sincere match for Emma. The sort of man Austen heroines should marry — if only they’d notice. MEDIUM role.
Charles Howard 10-early teens; lively, good‑natured. Note: this role will be doubled and played by two young actors.
Mr Howard’s ward. Naïve, boyish, eager to prove himself in polite society. A touch of mischief beneath the manners. SMALL role (for child actor).
Tom Musgrave 20’s–30’s; charismatic, dangerous.
The rakish gentleman. Charming, flirtatious, ultimately unreliable. Knows exactly how to turn a head – and how to break a heart. MEDIUM role.
Captain Bertie Late teens–early 30’s; dashing, flirtatious.
Young militia officer. Gallant, patriotic, falls for Margaret’s romanticism. His uniform does half the work for him. SMALL role.
Some supporting artists – servants, military officers, townsfolk, assembly guests etc – may also be required but could be played by members of the stage crew
Audition pieces
SELECTED AUDITION PIECES
If a character’s name is in UPPER CASE that is an audition piece for their chosen character and any characters in LOWER CASE will be read in by others attending the audition
ACT 1
Pages 1 – 4
EMMA, ELIZABETH, MRS EDWARDS
From EMMA: – ?
To ELIZABETH: You will certainly be noticed by Tom Musgrave.
Pages 4 – 5
TOM MUSGRAVE, Emma, Elizabeth
From TOM MUSGRAVE: Miss Emma Watson: the reports of your beauty…
To TOM MUSGRAVE… for I was with Lord Osborne this morning.
Pages 10 – 13
Emma, Mr Howard, CHARLES, TOM MUSGRAVE, LORD OSBORNE
From Emma: Mr Howard, will you introduce me?
To LORD OSBORNE: Let me see you at the castle, and bring me word of how she looks by daylight.
Pages 15 – 18
TOM MUSGRAVE, Elizabeth, LORD OSBORNE, Emma, Nanny
From TOM MUSGRAVE: Miss, Watson, how delightful to find you at home.
To LORD OSBORNE: Good day Ladies. Enjoy your beef.
Page 19 – 22
EMMA, MR HOWARD
From HOWARD: Miss Watson!
To HOWARD: … you are a parson’s daughter.
Pages 22 – 25
MRS ROBERT, MARGARET, Emma, ROBERT, Elizabeth
From MRS ROBERT: Emma Watson!
To Emma: Since I haven’t sixpence, what young man would think of me?
Pages 26 – 28
LORD OSBORNE, Emma
From LORD OSBORNE: Miss Emma, I… I..
To Emma: I say yes!
Pages 30 – 33
SERVANT/LAURA, EMMA
From EMMA: Hey!
To SERVANT/LAURA: I’m, um, Laura.
Pages 39 – 41
MARGARET, Emma, Elizabeth, MRS ROBERT, Laura
From MARGARET: I’m dying with suspense. I can’t bear it!
To MRS ROBERT: Come Elizabeth.
Pages 42 – 45
EMMA, LAURA
From Emma: That woman is insufferable!
To LAURA: … But Jane Austen wanted it to be Howard.
ACT 2
SCENE 1:
Pages 51 – 54
LAURA, MARGARET, Mrs Robert, Emma, Lady Osborne, Elizabeth, Tom Musgrave, Miss Osborne, Robert, Mr Howard
From Laura: Alright. Everyone? Do you want to take a…
To Mrs Robert: I don’t seem to be in it very much.
Pages 54 – 56
LADY OSBORNE, Laura, Emma, Mr Howard
From LADY OSBORNE: You said I persuade Emma to marry my son.
To LADY OSBORNE: Ten will suffice. I have been blissfully widowed these 15 years…
Pages 56 – 57
TOM MUSGRAVE, Mr Howard, Emma, Laura, MISS OSBORNE
From TOM MUSGRAVE: So Howard’s the romantic hero?
To Emma: That’s exactly what I said. I said that, didn’t I?
Pages 58 – 60
CHARLES, Lady Osborne, Mr Howard, Laura, Robert, LORD OSBORNE, Emma
From CHARLES: Wahoo!
To CHARLES: That’s rubbish. I hate that!
Pages 62 – 66
Emma, Laura, TOM MUSGRAVE, Miss Osborne, Margaret, Lady Osborne, Mrs Robert, ROBERT, MR HOWARD, Elizabeth
From Emma: Don’t talk to me like I’m one of your children…
To Laura: OK, too much research, sorry.
Pages 68 – 69
Laura, Emma, Charles, Howard, Robert, Lady Osborne, NANNY
From Laura: OK, so that’s five.
To Laura: Only just.
SCENE 2
Pages 72 – 75
ELIZABETH, MARGARET, Emma, Laura, Mr Howard, MRS ROBERT, ROBERT
From Elizabeth: What is it, Margaret?
To ROBERT (Calling) Coming my love!
Pages 76 – 77
MR HOWARD, Laura, Elizabeth, MR WATSON
From HOWARD: “I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”
To MR WATSON: No, not really.
Pages 77 – 80
LADY OSBORNE, NANNY
From LADY OSBORNE: Nanny.
To LADY OSBORNE: We have a new world to live in. Cone with me.
Pages 81 – 84
EMMA, OFFICER BERTIE, LAURA
From EMMA: Yes, no one here
To EMMA: Tell me, why not novels?
Pages 87 – 88
Emma, Laura, MRS EDWARDS
From Emma: You killed my father…
To Laura: Oh God. I can’t do this. I can’t do this.
Pags 90 – 93
Lady Osborne, Nanny, Elizabeth, Emma, ROBERT, Mrs Robert, Tom Musgrave, Lord Osborne, Margaret, MISS OSBORNE, Charles
From Lady Osborne: Just a minute!
To Charles: Yes! A ball!