Pride & (quite a lot of) Prejudice, “loosely based on an idea by Jane Austen”, will be entertaining audiences in The Commandery Gardens in Worcester, this July.

A spokesman explained: “This is a play adapted from a novel about romance, about early 19th century manners, and about important gender issues… all topics that the Worcester Rep knows absolutely nothing about!

“From the company that brought you a sparkling Charley’s Aunt and a stimulating Sherlock Holmes, prepare yourselves for a scintillating Pride & (quite a lot of) Prejudice!”

The spokesman added: “The Worcester Repertory Company returns to the glorious Commandery Gardens with this year’s must-see event of the summer; a brand new spoof version of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.

“The Rep’s annual outdoor event has become something of an institution since its first season back in 2007. Director Ben Humphrey, Acting Artistic Director of the Worcester Repertory Company, said “Pride and Prejudice is one of the most successful works of English Literature ever written. The Worcester Rep is delighted to be able to treat it with the same amount of respect and dignity that it has treated works by Shakespeare, Wilde, and Conan Doyle.

“That is to say, none whatsoever.”

He added, “We can’t promise that you’ll leave with a better understanding of the 19th Century class system or that any truths will be acknowledged, universally or otherwise, but you will have a good giggle.

Pride & (quite a lot of) Prejudice opens on Tuesday July 2 and runs for two weeks in the Commandery Gardens, Worcester.

Box Office: 01905 611427 / www.worcesterlive.co.uk