Becoming Meg Dashwood, a new Audible Original executive produced and starring Academy Award winner Emma Thompson, launches today.
The audio drama continues the story of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, focusing on the youngest Dashwood sister, Margaret.
Written by actor and author Rebecca Humphries, Becoming Meg Dashwood explores themes of female friendship, sexuality and liberation.
Thompson plays the older Margaret, with Erin Doherty portraying her younger self, while Naomi Ackie stars as her lover, Nelly. The cast also includes Liz Carr, Jessica Gunning, Paterson Joseph, Greg Wise, Golda Rosheuvel and Imelda Staunton.
The production, directed by Jo Tyabji and produced by Polly Thomas for Thomas Carter Projects, features an original score by Natasha Khan, known as Bat For Lashes, and immersive Dolby Atmos sound design by Olga Reed.
Emma Thompson said: “I am very thrilled and proud to have been a part of bringing Audible and Rebecca Humphries’ extraordinary drama to life.
“Their vision for the youngest Dashwood sister takes us from Austen’s world into the more hidden parts of women’s lives, parts that were not written about at the time, at least not openly.
“I think Austen would have been fascinated and delighted with the language and with the story and gladdened by the desire to take one of her characters and give her a future and a big, unexpected voice.”
Writer Rebecca Humphries said: “The only way to honour Jane Austen was to do what she did: take the love story and push it somewhere new. This one’s about liberation, class, queerness, and all the things that on Jane’s 250th birthday we are still fighting to say out loud.”
Aurelie De Troyer, Audible’s Head of Regional Content, Europe, described the drama as “a wonderful, inventive production” and praised Thompson’s return to Austen’s world, 30 years after her Oscar-winning screenplay for Sense and Sensibility.
Becoming Meg Dashwood is available to pre-order now at audible.co.uk (membership may be required).
