Sally Cookson’s adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s hugely successful novel takes us from Jane’s birth through her troubled childhood with her cruel aunt, Mrs. Reed. She is sent away to grow up at the bleak Lowood School but Jane craves freedom and change. Striking out on her own, she becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall to the French ward of the mysterious Edward Fairfax Rochester. But what is his secret? Jane grows close to Rochester and they make plans to marry. However, when she discovers that his insane wife, Bertha, is kept under lock and key on the third floor, she abandons Rochester and their burgeoning love. However, after toying with the idea of becoming the dutiful wife of the devout clergyman, St John, she feels Rochester’s call in her heart and returns to find him blind amongst the ruins of his ashen house.
Jane Eyre tells the story of a mistreated woman who struggles to achieve her own independence in a strict Victorian society. Starting out with nothing, she must find her way in a world where a woman’s success in the world is determined by her marital prospects. The action of the play is played out across a large wood and metal structure made up of ladders and platforms, providing a dynamic and imaginative space.
Editor’s Note: In the original production, the cast was formed of 3 musicians and 8 actors, who each (aside from Jane, Rochester, and Bertha) played multiple roles.
The original 2014 Bristol Old Vic production was staged over two acts but, when the play transferred to the National Theatre, it was revised to be performed in one act with a very small interval.
Jane Eyre guide sections
