Dark, unsettling and full of dramatic twists, this stage adaptation of Jane Eyre offers an imaginative take on one of literature’s most enduring love stories.
~ Advertorial ~
If you’re expecting a classic retelling of Jane Eyre, complete with all the elaborate period backdrops and grand 19th-century interiors often depicted in TV and movie adaptations, then think again.
This stage production of Charlotte Brontë’s much-loved novel, directed by Lily Dyble and based on the 2014 version by Sally Cookson, Mike Akers and the Original Company, takes a rather different approach for a contemporary audience.
The set is stripped back, dominated by an imposing staircase and large boxy speakers. Spotlights and plumes of smoke add depth to the dark and brooding stage, but for the most part, you’re left to imagine the traditional surroundings for yourself as the cast climb the stairs and disappear down a ladder, with their silhouettes drifting in and out of the shadows.
The booming speakers come into their own as the performance unfolds, lighting up and pulsating in sync with Jane’s pre-recorded inner monologues. We hear her thoughts racing as she wrestles with her emotions and the difficult decisions she faces, all guided by her strong sense of principle.
A spirited heroine and a complicated romance
The nine-strong cast deliver a cohesive performance, with many taking on multiple roles throughout, bringing the various characters and chapters of Jane’s life to the stage. Notably, Andrea Gatchalian brings some light relief as Adele, Mr Rochester’s young ward, with her sweet French accent and billowing pink dress a welcome contrast to the otherwise solemn atmosphere.
Olivia Marcus, who takes on the role of Brontë’s heroine, brilliantly captures Jane’s spirited and fiercely independent nature, alongside her softer, more vulnerable side. We follow her journey through some of the most defining periods of her life, from enduring the cruelty of her Aunt Reed in Gateshead and her early years as a pupil at Lowood School, to eventually arriving at Thornfield Hall to take up a position as governess.
It’s here that she meets the enigmatic Mr Rochester, played by Gabriel Akuwudike with a smouldering charm, and the pair develop an increasingly complicated relationship. There’s an undeniable attraction between them and when they do finally physically embrace one another, it feels inevitable yet awkward all at once.
A proposal eventually follows and Jane’s wedding veil – tumbling dramatically down the steps – makes for an iconic, almost cinematic moment.
Beneath the romance, there’s a distinctly Gothic undertone to this wedding scene – a subtle hint that something darker lies ahead.
A dramatic finale
Indeed, there’s more to Thornfield Hall than initially meets the eye. Wicked laughter echoing down the corridors, a candle setting Mr Rochester’s bedroom ablaze and a growing sense that something isn’t quite right all point to a sinister secret lurking within the house…
In the second act of this two and a half hour performance (which includes an interval), the set reveals a secret of its own and becomes the centrepiece of the escalating drama. The staircase revolves to unveil the truth behind the mysterious happenings, while scorching flames bring Jane closer to her fate. I was sitting just four rows from the front, and the heat was something else!
A striking theatrical reimagining
Overall, I would describe this as an intense and imaginative adaptation that brings a literary classic to life in an unexpected yet compelling way.
Its minimalist staging might seem at odds with a story rooted in the grandeur of the early Victorian era, but it’s only when you see it paired with the cast’s evocative performances that you realise just how well it works.
Catch Jane Eyre at Northern Stage until 7th November 2026. For more details, visit northernstage.co.uk.
Photos: Johan Persson
