Brian Beacom

WHAT’S this? Jane Austen to be performed in Doc Martin’s?

Pride and Prejudice, with a whole new sensibility, has arrived in Glasgow.

Meghan Tyler stars in the pivotal role of Lizzie Bennet in this new adaptation which sees Austen’s famous work reduced from 117 people in the book to just five.

And all of them are played by women.

Meghan seems perfectly cast as the knowing, feisty character who somehow manages to engineer other people’s lives.

“She’s spirited,” says the Newry-born actress, grinning.

“Lizzie is a bit of a dream to play, and she goes through so much with her family and the societal pressures of the time.

“It’s really great to play her in this re-vamped version of the story.”

Jane Austen’s novel was published in 1813, a world in which most women could only see a future ahead if they managed to bag a man.

“There are still elements of this today,” maintains Meghan.

“From an early age young women are still being told the Disney story. You should go out there and find your Prince and marry him.

“There is still a sense of pressure on women; why aren’t you getting married? Or having kids? And the economic argument is still there.”

She adds, laughing; “Your parents are still likely to say ‘Why are you marrying an actor?’

“But that’s because it’s still seen to be a positive to marry someone who is well off. That suggests you are sorted.”

The laugh emerges because Meghan’s fiancé is an actor.

“I think it’s not the right thing to do to marry someone just because they are well off.”

Meghan grew up with her mum in a single parent family.

“I think it was really brave for her to initiate the separation with my dad because coming from a Catholic town this was unusual.

“She was very supportive of me carrying out my passions, going into acting, and meanwhile my mum had to work extra jobs.

“She was an Education Welfare Officer – her jobs was to hunt down kids who didn’t go to school – and meanwhile she took care of me did a really good job of it.”

Does her mum encourage free thinking?

“Yes,” she did. “She’s fantastic.”

Meghan is also a writer and enjoys creating powerful female characters.

Her recent Oran Mor play The Persians saw Meghan play a DUP politician.

But what of Jane Austen? Did she go along with the notion women couldn’t really function without a man?

“I thing she challenged this notion in her novels,” says Meghan.

“For example, there is the sense that Lizzie was being asked to marry repeatedly - but she would turn down her suitors.

“This was seen to be a huge decision on her part, and really I think her position was that of feminist.”

This re-booted, irreverent Pride and Prejudice by Isobel McArthur will allow Meghan to offer up a new Lizzie Bennet.

“Well, she’ll have a Northern Ireland accent,” she says laughing. “But you know, we’re wearing the characters quite likely.

“We’re trying to create something here that’s inspiring and different and breaks lots of rules and conventions.

“And I think the Northern Ireland voice works. It helps pull away from the RP convention.

“It’s about revolutionising a classic text with a modern spin.”

That means a fair bit of artistic license can be taken.

“It’s an ensemble piece,” she says of the Blood of the Young production, and the initial kick off point is of five maids telling the story of Pride and Prejudice.

“I play Lizzie, and Effie, the maid. And I hope to bring a bit of cheekiness to it.”

There will be little hints to modern day.

“I’ll be wearing a traditional dress, but at the same time wearing Doc Martens,” she says.

“We want to get to the clash between the past and modern day.”

It all sounds clever? “It is,” says Meghan. “There is a lot to be said for the likes of feminism and toxic masculinity and poverty.

“We think that people who read the classic text will love it. And the new production means it will be accessible to a younger audience who don’t know Austen at all.”

Has Meghan looked at film to see how Lizzie Bennets have appeared, played by the likes of Greer Garson, Jennifer Ehle and Keira Knightley?

“I’ve seen a couple of films, but for this play I’ve tried to look only at the text.

“I think your brain could be mean to you and you’d start comparing yourself to the other Lizzies.”

This production won’t compare. And there won’t be a bonnet to be seen during the entire production.

“No bonnets,” she says, grinning. “And I have to add it’s never been an ambition of mine to wear one.”

*Pride and Prejudice, (Sort Of) The Tron Theatre, until July 14.