Charlotte Brontë’s 1848 novel Jane Eyre is regarded as a critically acclaimed narrative that transcends time and history with its fervent emotions and intensifying love story that spans the ages.

On 26 September, Colchester's Mercury Theatre welcomed its re-creation of the beloved novel, directed by award-winning Lily Dyble in a revival of Sally Cookson, Mike Akers, and the original company’s adaptation of Brontë’s book. 

Jane Eyre, a young orphaned girl, faces severe cruelty and poverty from birth and is transferred from the brutal orphanage she was raised in to a harsh charity school, depriving her of any comfort or joy. Seeking independence, Jane accepts a position as the governess of a young girl in Thornfield Hall. However, when she arrives at the gothic manor house, Jane embarks upon a journey of independence, sinister mysteries, and an intricate romance with the master of the house, the mysterious Mr Rochester. 

The performance began with the bleak image of young Jane reading to herself as she is tormented by her peers, with the soft sounds of bird calls harmonising in the background as she attempts to calm herself. As Jane hides from her abusive cousins, these melodic sounds are interrupted by sharp screeches, symbolic of Jane’s terror. The combination of sound and visual elements entranced the audience and transported them to the fictional world. 

Set designer Anna Yates embodied the gothic setting that engulfs the story of Jane Eyre, embracing minimal props to depict its eerie nature. However, instead of the expected rural backdrops, Yates employs a single staircase to represent several settings, decorated with speakers that blast Jane’s intensifying inner thoughts throughout the performance. These moments are unnerving, forcing the audience to endure discomfort as the overlapping sounds entered their ears. 

The production integrated Yates’ distinctive set designs with sound, lighting and movement. Bertha Mason’s haunting voice permeates the theatre and ricochets against the walls, revealing that her presence had tormented the entire performance. The deeply unsettling moment in which her circumstances are revealed is skillfully portrayed through a shift in setting, with the foreboding staircase being shifted around. The infamous attic is clearly difficult to recreate, and the decision to have the major secret sit merely behind the main scene is innovative. The scene in which Thornfield is set alight further combines these creative elements, with rows of flames engulfing the side of the staircase, and Bertha’s slow ascension to the peak is startling. 

Olivia Marcus delivers an exceptional performance as the titular Jane Eyre, playing her as a vulnerable yet strong and inquisitive heroine. Her ability to transform herself from a withdrawn and neglected child to a principled and passionate woman is remarkable. Her counterpart, Gabriel Akuwudike, is no exception to this. His brooding, aloof portrayal of Mr Rochester- Jane’s employer and complex romantic interest- is haunting at times, although it provided the audience with a passionate intensity and a glimpse into the vulnerability and torment hidden beneath his exterior, and the swoons could be heard throughout the theatre.

Despite the gothic nature, the performance frequently evoked laughter from the audience, especially from the young Adela, played by Andrea Gatchalian. 

Lisa Holley, an attendee of the performance, stated that “The show was retold and produced in a modern way, while still paying tribute to its classic roots.”

“I really enjoyed the cast’s performance,” she added.
“The stage production was brilliant as well; the moment where the staircase is set on fire, and Jane’s wedding veil was draped down the stage was particularly thrilling to see”. She, like many members of the audience, was primarily unfamiliar with the story of Jane Eyre, and had initially experienced the twists and revelations of the story on that evening. “While I knew the basis of the story and the plot twists, I was unaware of the ways it would play out.”

Ultimately, although familiarity with the story enhances enjoyment, it is not necessary to watch the performance, as the production and portrayal from the cast ensure that the audience is always informed and following along, making it an entertaining experience for all viewers.

The retelling captures the beloved essence of both the novel and the previous play adaptation, which made for an enthralling evening.