Bath Time

The 17th Jane Austen festival, which takes place in bath in september, includes more than 80 events, as Jackie Herring explains. pictures from last year’s festival by Owen Benson

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This is an important year for anniversaries. As well as being the bicentenary of Jane Austen’s death, it is also 200 years since the first publication of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. The ‘Bath’ novels, as they are known, have scenes set in locations that can still be seen in this beautiful city today. This year the Jane Austen Festival concentrates on Northanger Abbey, and all areas in Bath mentioned in the novel are included throughout the ten days of this year’s festival.

Favourites such as the Regency dance workshops, minibus tours and walks are in the programme, as are the Regency town house events of breakfast and afternoon tea. The Natural Theatre company return with their hit street theatre Austen Undone! and a brand new improvised theatrical More pride, More prejudice!

Also included is the world-famous and record-breaking Regency Costumed Charity Promenade, which takes place on Saturday, September 9, and is raising funds for the Cancer Care Campaign at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. It departs from the lawn in front of the Royal Crescent, where spectators and promenaders can “breath the air of better quality”.