Casting announced for Jane Eyre
Casting for Sally Cookson’s energetic
and imaginative new adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s masterpiece, Jane
Eyre has been confirmed with Nadia Clifford taking
the title role of Jane Eyre and Tim Delap as Rochester.
Manchester born and bred Nadia Clifford’s
previously appeared at the National Theatre in Alistair McDowell’s sell out
production of Pomona and Tim Delap will make
his NT debut as Rochester.
They are joined by Hannah Bristow (Helen
Burns/Adele/St John/Grace Poole/Abbot), Matthew Churcher (Musician), Alex
Heane (Musician), Melanie Marshall (Bertha Mason), Belfast born
and bred Paul Mundell (Mr Brocklehurst/Pilot/Mason),Cardiff born David
Ridley (musician), Evelyn Rivers (Bessie/Blanche
Ingram/Diana) and Lynda Rook (Mrs Reed/Mrs
Fairfax). The cast is completed by Ben Cutler, Jenny
Johns, Dami Olukoya, Francesca Tomlinson and Phoebe
Vigor.
2017 marks the 170th anniversary of
the first publication of Jane Eyre – a significant time to be touring Charlotte
Brontë’s classic and much loved story. The highly acclaimed co-production
between the National Theatre and Bristol Old Vic opens at The Lowry in Salford on
8 April and will continue its journey around the country to Sheffield, Aylesbury,
Plymouth, Southampton, Edinburgh, York, Woking, Glasgow, Richmond, Canterbury,
Cardiff, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Milton Keynes, Norwich, Brighton, Leeds, Belfast,
Aberdeen and Birmingham.
This exciting new stage version of Jane
Eyre was originally presented in two parts at Bristol Old Vic, and
then transferred to the National Theatre, re-imagined as a single performance,
playing to sold out houses at the NT’s Lyttelton Theatre. The production was
devised by the original company, with set designs by Michael Vale,
costumes by Katie Sykes, lighting by Aideen Malone,
music by Benji Bower, sound by Dominic Bilkey, movement
by Dan Canham and dramaturgy by Mike Akers.
Director Sally Cookson, said: “Adapting a novel for
the stage is a challenging prospect – especially when that novel is cited as
many people’s favourite of all time. It is always daunting when you’re working
on a story which everyone knows so well, because you want to surprise and maybe
challenge people’s expectations, without losing any of the things which make
them like the story in the first place.
“I chose this particular title because it’s a story that I love and have
enjoyed a close relationship with ever since I was intrigued, as a child, by
Orson Welles’ black and white melodrama with fabulous music by Bernard
Herrmann.
“I didn’t actually read the novel until I was in my early twenties and I
remember thinking while I read it: ‘This is a clarion cry for equal
opportunities for women, not a story about a passive female who will do
anything for her hunky boss’. I was struck by how modern Jane seemed – her
spirit and strong will, her peculiar and brilliant mind striving for personal
freedom to be who she is, lashing out against any constraint that prevents her
from being herself. She was exactly the sort of person I wanted to be.”
Charlotte Brontë’s story of the trailblazing Jane is as inspiring as
ever. This bold and dynamic production tells the story of one woman’s fight for
freedom and fulfilment.
From her beginnings as a destitute orphan, Jane Eyre’s spirited
heroine faces life’s obstacles head-on, surviving poverty, injustice and the
discovery of bitter betrayal before taking the ultimate decision to follow her
heart.
PERFORMANCES
Jane Eyre
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
Monday 5-Saturday 10 June
Mon-Sat eves, 7.30pm
Thurs & Sat mats, 2.30pm
Box Office 0844 871 7647 (bkg fee) Calls cost up
to 7p per min plus your phone company’s access charge
www.atgtickets.com/glasgow (bkg
fee)
