WITH a large cast, elegant period costume, song, dance and an original score composed by producer, Richard Main, Chapterhouse Theatre Company return to the North-East with Laura Turner’s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

This is a leisurely stroll into Jane Austen’s traditional world of high society and meeting the inimitable Mr Darcy during the Bennet sisters’ quest for true love.

Last year, Chapterhouse played to summer out-door audiences of 30,000 after 11 seasons of entertaining people at country houses, castles and heritage sites across the UK and Ireland. The company returned to the stage last year with the ghostly Dickensian classic, A Christmas Carol, and follows it with the Regency splendour of Pride and Prejudice which plays South Shields, Alnwick, Consett and Darlington.

Chapterhouse is arguably one of the UK’s most successful touring companies since taking performances of Romeo and Juliet to 30 venues in 2000. Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth have followed alongside productions of Beauty and the Beast, The Taming of The Shrew, The Mystery Plays and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. In 2004, the company produced the first West End show to tour open-air, ART, directed by Nigel Havers.

Pride and Prejudice can be seen at: The Customs House, South Shields, Wednesday and Thursday, 1.30pm and 7.30pm. Next Friday at 7.30pm.

Tickets: £14 (concessions £12).

Box Office: 0191-454-1234 customshouse.co.uk Alnwick Playhouse, Bondgate Without, Alnwick, February 3, 7.30pm. 01665-510785.

Adults £12 (£8).

The Empire Theatre, Consett, Co Durham, February 4, 7.30pm. £12 (£8).

01207-218 171.

Darlington Arts Centre, February 16, 8pm, £12, children £9.

01325-486 555.