Abbotsford Convent is just four kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD and spread over 16 acres. It is Australia’s largest multi-arts precinct—a place of art, culture and learning, and features beautiful historic buildings. It was added to the National Heritage List in 2017.

Austen Con will be taking place in the North Magdalen Laundry, Industrial School and Mercator Lawn.

AUDIO ESCAPE ROOM

Presented by Dani Siller of Consume This Media
You, Marianne Dashwood, have just learned that your father left you and your sisters some very special keepsakes before he died. Unfortunately, he left them hidden away in his study,which along with the rest of the estate now belongs to your half-brother, John. You need to return to your old home, head into the study and find them-without letting John realise there might be something valuable lying around!

This escape room is an audio-only room, which uses the power of your imagination. The narrator/game master will talk you through the escape room as you ask questions to uncover clues and solve puzzles. 

SEWING

Experienced sewer and regency enthusiast Kelly Lock will demonstrate how to sew a day cap, a project that can be taken with you and done as you listen to different presentations. BYO sewing kit and materials, or $15 for the gear you need to be the prettiest cap wearer you ever did see.

SPEED DATING GAME

Ever wondered what it would be like to make friends with Marianne Dashwood, or go on a date with Bingley? This session will answer that question. With our team of actors ready to charm and enchant their way to a second date, participants will take part in traditional speed-dating rounds, with five minutes to meet and greet each Austen character. 

This event is inclusive of all genders and sexualities, including those who may just be looking for a new best friend.

REGENCY DANCING

Historical dancing experts George Ansell and Jenny Patrone will teach you everything you need to know to join in this popular activity, to have you doing all the right steps at the ball!

FASHION SHOW

The opportunity to show off your creativity and style! Prizes for the most creative and most elaborate costumes, as well as the best mash-up!

Whether lockdown has inspired you, or the best you can do is a bedsheet, we want to see it all! Modern takes, crossovers, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, whatever inspires you is fit for the catwalk.

Letters

Letters were a key part of Austen’s plots, but they were also an art form in their day. Learn about the art of writing letters with Kelly Lock… and folding them to avoid spies (since envelopes did not yet exist!)… and make your own!

Behind the Black Veil: The Horrid Mysteries inspiring Northanger Abbey

Speaker Sam Hirst looks at Austen's choice of 'Horrid novels' in Northanger Abbey and what they tell us about the genre, its publishing practices, women's place in it and the benefits of reading far too many Gothic mysteries.

Before Bridgerton: Representations of Race in Georgian Fiction

Join writer Lauren Burke and 19th Century Literature Professor Dr. Lydia Craig, for this discussion about the Georgian-era novels Ourika, Fashionable Connexions, The Woman of Colour and Sanditon. These books provide fascinating insights into what life was like for people of colour in high society around Jane Austen's time.

A Network of Spies and Scandal: Pamphlets in Regency England

IIn Northanger Abbey, General Tilney spends his evenings going over what Catherine considers “stupid pamphlets.” But pamphlets actually spread information ranging from spy networks to scandal sheets. Zan Cammack and Diane Neu take a fun journey through the world of Regency social media, with nods to Bridgerton and revolution, while participants test their own pamphleteering skills

The East India Company

The British East India Company played a big role in Austen’s world and in her fiction, even though it was never mentioned by name. Kelly Gardiner and Sharmini Kumar will discuss Jane’s connection to this multinational corporation, and look at ways we see its influence in her writing.

A_TISTIC - PERFORMING TO STRANGERS - READING NEURODIVERGENCE IN PRIDE & PREJUDICE

Hannah and James are two of the co-directors of A_tistic, a team of multidisciplinary neurodiverse artists, consultants and educators. Using their style of Spectrum Theatre, they aim to bring autistic lives, insights and experiences to the stage.

Listen to them interrogate Pride and Prejudice through a neurodivergent lens.

Panel: Non-canonical pairings

Should Lizzy Bennet have ended up with Darcy? Would Anne Elliot and Elinor Dashwood make a good match? Could you ship T’Challa and Mary Crawford? Panellists including Zoë Hodge and Kaitlyn Blythe will bring to the table three non-canonical Austen-pairings to discuss and defend over three nail-biting rounds.

Cabaret and DJ

Melbourne performers bring their unique perspectives to themes in Austen’s work, including a sneak peek of Sense and Sensibility: The Musical

Read about our delightful performers here!

Laura Rocklyn is an actress and writer who specialises in historical portrayals. She recently developed and performed a portrayal of Jane Austen for the New York Society Library, which can be viewed here for the next few months; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOk2McZfZsY
More information about her work can be found at https://laurarocklyn.com