Q&A: Behind the Scenes of Worcester Repertory Company's Northanger Abbey with Director Paul Milton
16 July 2026
Worcester Repertory Company returns with a fresh adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved novel, Northanger Abbey, in the beautiful surroundings of The Commandery Gardens, following the success of last year's acclaimed production of Sense and Sensibility.
Jane Austen’s joyful romance follows the naïve Catherine Morland, whose obsession with Gothic horror novels fuels her overactive imagination. When she is invited to stay at Northanger Abbey, nothing is quite as it seems. Thankfully, she finds a down-to-earth suitor in Henry Tilney, although his unusual family may prove just as mysterious as her beloved novels.
Worcester Theatres caught up with director and scriptwriter Paul Milton to discuss reimagining Northanger Abbey for the stage, the timeless appeal of Jane Austen's characters, and what audiences can expect from this enchanting open-air production.
How did you find the experience of writing and directing last year’s Sense & Sensibility for Worcester Repertory Company?
Absolutely loved it. I enjoy the process of reading and researching a classic novel and then writing an accessible adaptation for modern audiences. We were blessed with a very talented cast for Sense and Sensibility, some of whom are returning for Northanger Abbey. The cast were real troopers performing during last year's heatwave and never once complained.
Northanger Abbey marks the 64th production you have directed during your 17-year career as a creative director. What do you enjoy most about directing, and what keeps you passionate about it?
As a director you never stop learning. My approach to the work has changed over the years and I think I'm confident enough now to admit that I don't know the answers to everything in the rehearsal room, and that it is a strength to allow the actors to challenge your ideas and to have their own suggestions. It is a collaborative process, and I enjoy working with the creative, technical and stage management teams as well as the performers.
As both the scriptwriter and director of Worcester Rep Company’s Northanger Abbey, what has been the most rewarding, and the most challenging, part of adapting the novel for the stage?
The most rewarding part has been shaping a lengthy novel into a play structure, with two acts, each with a beginning, middle and end. Also, to try and keep the essence of Jane Austen's nineteenth century voice but to transform it into dialogue for a contemporary audience. The challenge is determining which characters are necessary for the plot and which can be dropped from our version of the story (for the sake of brevity!).
Why do you think Jane Austen’s stories continue to resonate with modern audiences?
I think we love the romance of the books - Mr Darcy, for example, in Pride and Prejudice. We have a similar hero in Northanger Abbey, Henry Tilney, who is charming, amusing, handsome and really rather lovely. Jane Austen also populates her books with larger-than-life stock characters who we can recognise today, for example Mrs Allen who is rich, socially connected and obsessed with how she looks and dresses.
How does the setting of The Commandery Gardens enhance the storytelling and audience experience?
On a balmy summer evening - fingers crossed - there's nothing nicer than watching some great storytelling over a glass of Prosecco! It's an opportunity to forget real life and be transported back to an age before modern technology. There's something lovely and relaxing about sharing an experience in the open air, with a gentle breeze and birdsong in the background.
If you could describe this production of Northanger Abbey in three words, what would they be?
Accessible, intimate and humorous.
Worcester Repertory Company's Northanger Abbey runs at The Commandery Gardens from Thu 16 - Sun 19 July & Thu 23 - Sun 26 July. Tickets are available now via the Worcester Theatres website.