Jane Eyre

An amateur production by arrangement with Nick Hern books

A bold and theatrically inventive adaptation of the literary classic that puts the interior life of the novel on stage.

As a child, the orphaned Jane Eyre is taught by a succession of severe guardians to stifle her natural exuberance. A part of herself is locked away, out of view of polite society… until she arrives at Rochester’s house as a governess to his young child. Soon Rochester’s passionate nature reawakens Jane’s hidden self, but darker secrets are stirring in the attic.

This version focuses on the relationship between Jane and Bertha, Rochester’s first wife. Rather than making them opposites, it seeks to make connections between them both physically and emotionally. Relying heavily on movement, Bertha is an ever present feeding off the emotions that Jane is forced to hold down given the patriarchal system she lives within. Using rhythms of West Indian dance, we hope to bring to life the full story of the two women in Rochester’s life.

The Kelvin Players is Bristol’s largest non-professional theatre company with a reputation for staging brave and challenging work. This production will be Kelvin’s third at the Tobacco Factory Theatres.