Austen works brought alive

Suitcase Theatre members at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery on Saturday afternoon, after performing scenes from the novels of Jane Austen: front left, Gabby Golding (playing Harriet Smith) and Kimberley Buchan (Elizabeth Bennet); back row, left to right, Brook Bray (playing Fitzwilliam Darcy/Mr Bennet/Mr Gardiner), Sofie Welvaert (Emma Woodhouse), Emer Lyons (Mrs Bennet) and Yvonne Jessop (Lady Catherine de Bourgh). Photo: supplied.

Jane Austen 200 Dunedin is a series of events to mark the 200th anniversary of Austen’s death, in July 18, 1817.

Inspired by a wave of international events marking the anniversary,  Dunedin resident Jane Reynolds has organised a mini Austen festival for the city.

The programme was officially launched at a series of flash mob performances by Suitcase Theatre, performers linked to Dunedin’s Globe Theatre, on Saturday, including a noon half-hour performance at the city library.

Mrs Reynolds said the activities were a ‘‘marvellous’’ success and had helped raise awareness of the anniversary programme.

The other anniversary events start tomorrow,  with an introductory talk by University of Otago English and linguistics senior lecturer Dr Paul Tankard at 5.30pm at the university’s Burns 2 lecture theatre.

Austen specialist Prof Emerita Jocelyn Harris, of Dunedin, will give the keynote address on October 17.

Prof Harris also recently released a new book Satire, Celebrity, and Politics in Jane Austen.

Programme details can be found at www.otago.ac.nz/jane-austen-200 via internet.