WHILE it is a truth universally acknowledged that we all love Jane Austen (well, most of us do), we probably wouldn’t call ourselves superfans as best friends Charlotte and Ellie do, and they want you to join them at their exclusive Jane Austen Fan Club, on tour from 5th February to 5th March.

They start at  Warminster Library, moving on to Bridport Arts Centre on Saturday 7th February.

Hilarious and heartfelt, an evening with the Jane Austen Fan Club promises high drama, breathless romance and dancing of the highest quality*.

Alongside the usual books, bonnets and biscuits, you can expect comedy, chaos and a lifesize cardboard Colin Firth. But as real life inconveniently intrudes on the meeting, Charlotte and Ellie are faced with the question – in 250 years, how much have things really changed?

Performers Victoria Briggs and and Lucy Mellors are both local. Based in Salisbury, Victoria has been artistic director of MAST Mayflower Studios, a senior producer at Battersea Arts Centre, performing arts programme poducer at Roundhouse, participation manager at artsdepot and youth theatre director at Salisbury Playhouse. She is a trustee of Forest Forge Theatre Company.

Lucy Mellors, based in Southampton, is a theatre maker, writer and opera singer from Southampton.

The hilarious Jane Austen show is on tour, with dates at arts centres and libraries around the region, including Warminster Library, Thursday 5th February 2pm, Bridport Arts Centre, Saturday 7th February, Melksham Library, Tuesday 10th February 2pm, Palace Court Theatre, Bournemouth, Thursday 12th February 7pm, Trowbridge Town Hall, Friday 13th, 7pm, Forest Arts, New Milton, Saturday 14th 2pm, Corsham Pound Arts, Friday 20th 7.30pm, Salisbury Arts Centre, Saturday 21st 7.30pm, The Barn, Ringwood, Wednesday 25th 3.30pm, Devizes Library, Thursday 26th 6pm, Ringwood Library, Saturday 28th 3.30pm and Chippenham Library, Thursday 5th March at 2pm.

* This is a somewhat optimistic promise – dancing, anyway.