Jane Austen’s classic story, Pride & Prejudice, is the first production for Gallery 7 Theatre & Performing Arts new season of theatre.

Set in a period of growing generational clashes and changing social norms, Pride & Prejudice features classic presumptions, misunderstandings and poignant moments. Three sisters, Jane, Elizabeth and Lydia, face the prospect of love and marriage in their own unique way, experiencing hardship, heartache and happiness along the way.

This much-beloved tale of love, passion and redemption comes alive in a special adaptation by one of Canada’s leading playwrights, Tom Wood.

“It thrills me when we’re able to feature works by Canadian playwrights,” says Gallery 7 Theatre’s artistic director, Ken Hildebrandt.

T he play’s director, Annette Reilly, is equally enthusiastic about the production. When speaking about some of the themes that surface in the story, Reilly says the play “is the tale of one woman’s journey as she navigates through society, love, and marriage, all the while dealing with a family bent on social gain.”

Pride & Prejudice features an ensemble cast of 17 performers from across the Lower Mainland, and together play a total of 27 different characters.

In the lead roles of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are Burnaby resident, Mike Klemak, and Abbotsford resident, Jenni Fischer.

Klemak is a graduate of the UVIC theatre program and has appeared in such television shows as Psych and Supernatural. Fischer holds a theatre degree from Trinity Western University and has appeared in productions of The Good Woman of Setzuan, Tartuffe and The Lady’s Not for Burning.

“This is Gallery 7’s first real go at classical-style theatre so we’re pretty pumped to be sharing it with the community,” Hildebrandt explains.

Pride & Prejudice runs Nov. 6-7, 12-14 and 19-21 at 7:30 p.m. with additional discounted matinees on Nov. 7 and 14 at 2 p.m. at the MEI Theatre, 4081 Clearbrook Rd.

For more information please visit www.gallery7theatre.com.