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Overview
Synopsis
Polly Teale’s literary re-imagining of the turbulent lives of the Bronte sisters portrays the women from childhood to death, weaving back and forth in time. In 1845, their brother, Branwell Bronte, returned home to Haworth, West Yorkshire, in disgrace, having been dismissed from his employment following an affair with the mistress of the house. As their brother descends into alcoholism and insanity, his sisters, Anne, Charlotte and Emily, attempt to keep the household together and protect their father, Patrick. In the midst of chaos, they write more furiously than ever before. Focusing on their creation of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Jane Eyre, and Wuthering Heights respectively, their journeys and engagement with their characters offers a glimpse into the states of mind of the sisters during this time. Each feels tortured and ill-at-ease in their own way, as they struggle to align their literary creations with real life. With a certain amount of mystery surrounding the artistic legacy of the Bronte sisters, Polly Teale’s interpretation of their fractious relationship and tortured ambition presents a fascinating glimpse into the lives of three of Yorkshire’s most famous authors.
Show Information
- Book
- Polly Teale
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2005
- Genres
- Drama, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Period, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- Yorkshire, England, 1845
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- Nick Hern Book
- Ideal For
- College/University, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Brontë was first performed in August 2005 by Shared Experience Theatre Company at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford. It subsequently transferred to the West Yorkshire Playhouse (Leeds), Warwick Arts Centre, Project Arts Centre (Dublin), York Theatre Royal, Oxford Playhouse, Liverpool Playhouse, the Lyric Hammersmith (London), and The Lowry (Salford). It returned to the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2011.
In 2010, Brontë was revived at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury, directed by Nancy
to read the context for Bronte and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
As the audience enters, the actors are already on the stage, wearing modern clothes. As they begin to speak, they change into period costume. The three actors playing Emily, Anne, and Charlotte muse on the lives of the Bronte sisters, wondering how differently their lives would have turned out to be if they had married and turned away from literature. After a beat, they are transformed into the sisters. Together, they reflect on their close bond and how losing their mother when
to read the plot for Bronte and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
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Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
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Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
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Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Relating to the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901) or a person who lived in the Victorian era.
A northern county in England.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher