The Jane Austen Method

For over 200 years, Jane Austen’s novels have shaped our ideas of happiness, relationships, and “Mr. or Mrs. Right.” Six singles put this legacy to the test in the Jane Austen Method: a modern, couples-therapy-style reenactment. Dressed in historical costumes, famous scenes are reenacted—complete with fog, wind, and intense emotions. It quickly becomes clear: Jane Austen didn’t write harmless romances; she analyzed social dependencies and financial circumstances. Women must marry well, men must provide security—but not everyone is a Mr. Darcy. Characters like Captain Wentworth lose their appeal as soon as money and status are lacking. In Jane Austen’s world, love is always a negotiation. Even today, we sort ourselves by success, background, and class—only now the balls are called Tinder, Grindr, or Parship. With their adaptations of classics—such as the Chekhov reimagining *Sistas!* at Berlin’s Volksbühne—Golda Barton and Isabelle Redfern strike right at the heart of current debates. Using the “Jane Austen Method,” they uncover the foundations of our romantic narratives, exaggerate them with razor-sharp wit, and ask how love might be negotiated differently today.