by Zoe Cooper
after the novel by Jane Austen
a Minack Theatre Production
directed by Millie Brolly
Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love. Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen
Jane Austen’s lightest novel gets a 21st century makeover in this lively, irreverent satire on imagination and gothic romance.
Performed by just 3 actors, laughs are never far away in this tangled story of loves desired and unexpected. In this version, Cath’s story is given a fresh perspective that is fast moving and exuberantly playful, while asking big questions about personal freedom and choice.
Country-bred Catherine Morland knows little of the world, but who needs experience when you have novels to guide you? Seizing her chance to escape her claustrophobic family for the glamour of Bath, she meets sophisticated Isabella Thorpe, Iz to her friends, and soon Cath becomes the heroine of her very own adventure.
Zoe Cooper’s stage version of Northanger Abbey was premiered in 2024 at the Orange Tree Theatre, London, before touring to Octagon Theatre, Bolton, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, and Theatre by the Lake, Keswick.
Millie Brolly (Director)
Millie grew up in West Cornwall only a few miles from the Minack Theatre and is now based in Cardiff. She recently graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts with a Masters degree in directing.
Millie’s most recent credits as a director include Cafe on the Beach (The Backstage), Blank (Mountview), Superstition Mountain (The Minack Theatre/Tour) and The Tempest immersive pop up performance (Regents Park Open Air Theatre). As an Assistant Director her recent credits include The Massive Tragedy of Madame Bovary (The Minack Theatre/Tour), Carrie’s War (The Minack Theatre), Vinegar Tom (The Mack).
Millie has recently been travelling around Australia, but now she is back and is very excited to be directing two productions at the Minack this season.
Ben Kernow (Hen)
Ben grew up on a small farm along the rugged north Cornish coast. He went on to train at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA), graduating in 2013, and has since built a diverse career across theatre and film.
His stage work has been him perform regularly at the Minack, where he has appeared in productions including The Massive Tragedy of Madame Bovary, Carrie's War, Superstition Mountain, Tom's Midnight Garden, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Hetty Feather, Stones in His Pockets, and The Secret Garden. With Miracle Theatre, he has performed in Hell's Bells, Sleeping Beauty, A Perfect World, The Cherry Orchard, The Third Policeman, Life’s a Dream, and The Magnificent Three. Other notable theatre credits include Lucy and the Lost Ones with Quirk Theatre, Product and A Doll’s House with New Model Theatre, and classic works such as Relatively Speaking, The Importance of Being Earnest, and The Seagull.
Beyond acting, he runs Ha Hum Ah Productions, a theatre and film company that recently produced the award-winning Cornish language short Art. When not on stage or in front of the camera, Ben can often be found exploring antique shops or tending to his vineyard.
Lydea Perkins (Iz)
Lydea graduated from the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA) in 2013 where she received the Sir Lawrence Oliver bursary award. Since then, she has had a varied career in theatre, TV and voice-overs.
Her credits include: School for Scandal (National Tour), Private Lives (Mill at Sonning), Sense and Sensibility, Bold Girls and Rails (Theatre by the Lake/York Theatre Royal), She Stoops to Conquer (Theatre Royal Bath) and Harvey (Birmingham Rep/Theatre Royal Haymarket). On TV she played Frances Porter in Endeavour, Series 5 (ITV).
When Lydea is not acting, she can be found at the gym training in Muay Thai boxing, at home upcycling second-hand furniture or on long walks with her spaniel, Goose.
Eleanor Toms (Cath)
Eleanor grew up in Liskeard and fell in love with acting as a child at Sterts Theatre. She went on to train at the Guildford School of Acting (GSA), graduating in 2016, and works across theatre, audio and screen. She is also a cellist and a singer, and when not working can be found lindyhop dancing around London!
Her stage work at The Minack Theatre includes Carrie's War, Tom's Midnight Garden and The Secret Garden. Notable theatre credits include an international tour of Jane Eyre with Blackeyed Theatre, Astley’s Astounding Adventures and Treasure Island both at the New Vic Theatre, Honeypot at The Other Palace, A Dickensian Christmas with Ha Hum Ah Productions, The Lost Boy Peter Pan with Action to the Word, and UK Tours of Macbeth, The Tempest, The Snow Queen and A Christmas Carol with This Is My Theatre. Other work includes a recurring role in the web series The Long Day Killer, voiceover work on The Black Pigeon and It’s Grimm, leading roles in several short films and working with Frinton Repertory Theatre in Fiddler on the Roof and A Little Night Music.
She is thrilled to be returning to the Minack with this brilliant play and team.