- There is no greater comfort in this world than a sister.
(gentle instrumental music) - The women in this piece is what is the heart of it.
These women all together, supporting each other, and helping each other, and dreaming with each other of better lives.
(actors giggle) - Cassy is the sort of backbone of the Austen family.
She's the oldest sister.
There were only two sisters with lots of brothers, so they were very, very close.
- There's something so extraordinary in this seemingly ordinary relationship.
- Cassy sort of helped cultivate Jane's creativity.
It is perfect.
And she sacrificed a lot in her own personal life to be there for her sister Jane.
(gentle music continues) - Neither of you has a fortune, so he must make one.
Love comes at a price.
- Now, Cassandra was engaged to Tom at a very young age, and then Tom went away for a year and tragically didn't make it back.
Her life was made slightly less difficult, I think, because she inherited a small amount of money from Jane, and so unlike other women, perhaps in the same position, she was able to look after herself.
- Cassandra, we weren't expecting you.
- Isabella, we meet her with her father on his deathbed.
- Isabella must live with her sisters.
- As a result, she is then being essentially kind of booted out of her home.
She's dedicated to her dad.
There's a duty towards her father, but certainly she's aware that her father never really respected what it was that she wanted for her own life.
- We must make sure Isabella is taken care of.
- So my character right now, she's Isabella's servant.
She's incredibly loyal and opinionated and strong in her beliefs.
(gentle instrumental music) - They deserve something better than this wretched future of ours.
- In those days, the options for women were sort of non-existent, and in many cases, women were expected to acknowledge that there was no equality between men and women, and certainly if you are a widow or if you happen to be a woman who doesn't have children, then you are on the outskirts of society.
- Jane Austen is an incredible example of someone who fought against the sort of oppression of that time and managed to make a living for herself.
- Jane has had four novels published and all through great acclaim.
- Feels very fitting to be celebrating Jane Austen in such a powerful, creative female environment.
(sisters laugh) - We have been so lucky to have been surrounded by some of our finest actresses.
They are just absolutely delightful and they have made coming to work and telling the story a dream, really.
(gentle instrumental music) (pen scratches) (gentle music continues)
