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Jane Eyre

★★★

“ One benefit of Nick Lane’s deft and pacy retelling is that it clocks in at under two hours. Nor did I feel there was much missing from the life of hardy orphan Jane, who toughs out childhood neglect, shrugs off school-room bullying — and eventually finds love and independence on her own uncompromising terms. One-part nightmare (like Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale) and one-part Mills & Boon romance, her story is never less than a rollicking ride…

So it is again in Adrian McDougall’s taut production that matches the story’s grim northern ways with sometimes impenetrable gothic lighting and a tumbledown, barn-like set “

Patrick Marmion, Daily Mail

FULL REVIEW

★★★

“ Passionate, forthright and utterly believable, Kelsey Short might be the best Jane I’ve seen.

With a design evocative of the ruins of Thornfield, this production deserves another chance to rise in the theatre, but its recorded form still makes for a spiritually nourishing winter afternoon’s entertainment “

The Stage

FULL REVIEW

“ Director Adrian McDougall has rejected the fashionable habit of presenting Jane as a rad-fem freedom fighter surrounded by grotesque male oppressors. His version reminds us how sympathetic the novel is towards men…

This is an absorbing, beautifully designed version that will please the casual viewer as well as the lazy student who wants to revisit the text without the hassle of moving his eyes across the page... 

The Spectator

FULL REVIEW

★★★

Kelsey Short is wonderful as Jane Eyre leading us through the story with the first-person exposition in character reflecting the style of the original novel… 

The critical scenes when she is called by Rochester to tend to the injured Mr Mason, when she returns to Thornfield from visiting Aunt Reed to be met in the copse by Rochester and when she meets Bertha Mason are all beautifully played “

POCKET SIZE THEATRE

FULL REVIEW

★★★

this fresh and ingenious production of Jane Eyre does not disappoint… 

I really can’t find fault with this impressive production, it has something of everything, and delivers strong performances from a talented company, supported by excellent staging and atmospheric music “

THEATRE SOUTH EAST

FULL REVIEW

★★★

“ How to compress a blockbuster three volume novel from 1847 into an engaging theatrical experience for audiences today? That’s the challenge that writer-director Nick Lane has risen to splendidly in this thrilling adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s ‘Jane Eyre’…

Kelsey Short’s Jane is a captivating and empowered northern lass with bags of inspiring grit. The splendid Ben Warwick is Mr Rochester… “

THE SPY IN THE STALLS

FULL REVIEW

★★★

At a time when we crave Theatre, there is always the worry that a filmed version won’t quench that thirst sufficiently. This production quells any such worries

The adaption by Nick Lane is sharp and extremely true to the novel, whilst always understanding what is needed to bring the heart of the story to the fore. He excels at this, in this clever production…

A hugely enjoyable production that reminds us all how theatre at its best enriches the soul “

THEATRE NEWS

FULL REVIEW

★★★★

One of the most compelling, intelligent adaptations of Jane Eyre I’ve ever seen… 

Short’s Jane has delightful resolute control, tempered with passion. Her silences are as good as anything she says too because this Jane thinks visibly. It’s a near perfect interpretation…

This elegant, rather beautiful production is another triumph for Blackeyed Theatre and a real tribute to director Adrian McDougall 

SUSAN ELKIN, SARDINES MAGAZINE

FULL REVIEW

★★★★

“ With it’s multi-roling cast of five, this production captures the sweeping, romantic heart of Charlotte Bronte’s gothic novel through its lush music and passionate characters, and eerie, haunting design… 

an excellent addition to the company’s long history of successful classical adaptations. It’s unexpectedly funny in places, sweepingly romantic and captures the dark, melancholic heart of Bronte’s novel excellently 

A YOUNGER THEATRE

FULL REVIEW

★★★★

“ A whirlwind of a production that tells the story of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel with beautiful, intimate flair… 

Director Adrian McDougall has triumphed with a tight ensemble of actor-musicians who handle the text with impressive fluidity, moving through each scene with a wonderfully rich understanding of the emotional rhythms…

overall this Jane Eyre is told beautifully and intimately – you’ll leave with your heart swelling

THE SKINNY

FULL REVIEW

★★★★

Directed by Adrian McDougall, it rarely lets up pace with extra energy thanks to George Jennings’ live music and songs performed by the cast and the work of movement director Sammy Fonfe.… 

The story is told by an ensemble of just five actors, led by the excellent Kelsey Short who combines steeliness and vulnerability in her portrayal of Jane…

The gothic style of the novel is beautifully conjured up by Victoria Spearing’s set, from the rustling childhood terrors of the Red Room to Mr Rochester’s gloomy Thornfield Hall, atmospherically lit with shifting light and shadows by lighting designer Alan Valentine

BRITISH THEATRE

FULL REVIEW

Kelsey Short breaks every heart in the audience… 

Ben Warwick was born to play the role of Rochester, delivering a stupendously mood- marinaded performance…

This superb production by Blackeyed Theatre marks a dramatic milestone and is warmly recommended 

WORCESTER NEWS

FULL REVIEW

“Nick Lane’s adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic bildungsroman is far enough removed from our reality to provide two hours’ worth of escapism, combining convincing performances all round with inventive staging, musical accompaniment, and a hint of comedy.… 

Jane Eyre undoubtedly has gothic elements, if not strictly of the gothic genre, and Blackeyed Theatre’s production capitalises on this without turning it into a horror story. There are terrifying moments, piercing screams, building tensions, unsettling creaks, scratching violins, and madness personified, but all is executed without unnecessary melodrama. Emotions are heighted to precisely the right degree, before being brought back down again with musical relief, or a moment of comic sarcasm of Mrs Fairfax or one of the Rivers sisters 

DRAMA & THEATRE MAGAZINE

FULL REVIEW

“ This production was a masterpiece of translation to the stage by Nick Lane for Blackeyed Theatre….

It was pure storytelling from beginning to end and had me gripped throughout…

A work of art in collaborative theatre

HENLEY STANARD

FULL REVIEW

“ Kelsey Short is just perfect as the heroine, Jane Eyre – she narrates her story as well as acting it and takes us along with her in an inclusive performance as we share her pain, her joy and most importantly her reasoning. She makes us concur with which of life’s paths she chooses to follow next and why….

A refreshing and honest adaptation of a classic tale of which I am sure the famous novelist would most definitely approve…

 Highly recommended splendid night out  

MALVERN OBSERVER

FULL REVIEW

“ Outstanding Blackeyed Theatre production…

Utterly captivating and convincing …

The cast’s exceptional use of the minimal props available to them was a credit to their dexterity and the guidance of director Adrian McDougall and set designer Victoria Spearing, with boxes and benches offering in the mind’s eye long passageways, doors and dark, secretive rooms 

BROMSGROVE ADVERTISER

FULL REVIEW

★★★★

“ spectacular world premiere…

Kelsey Short is everything I imagined Jane Eyre to be…

This romantic classic of English Literature has been given a new lease of life with this emotionally charged production of Jane Eyre set to a very fitting score 

BEHIND THE ARRAS

FULL REVIEW

★★★

“ If Charlotte Brontë could see this play, she would not be disappointed 

FAIRY POWERED PRODUCTIONS

FULL REVIEW

★★★★

“ Jane Eyre is a well-loved story of a woman’s pursuit of independence and love – a tale adapted countless times and done well by a few. Blackeyed Theatre is one of those few. 

WHAT’S ON MIDLANDS

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“ an incredibly immersive experience…

Kelsey Short’s performance as our independent Gothic heroine Jane was incredibly moving 

MUDDY STILETTOS

FULL REVIEW

“ a brilliant production with excellent acting and an innovative set “

WORTHING HERALD

FULL REVIEW

“ Jane is superbly played by Kelsey Short “

BH LIVING

FULL REVIEW

“ An exceptionally compelling, intelligent adaptation of Jane Eyre…

retains the essence of the radical feminist philosophy which underpins the novel, but which is often sidelined by sentimentalist adaptors “

INK PELLET

FULL REVIEW

“ This is a refreshing and honest adaptation of a classic tale of which the famous novelist would most definitely approve 

BASINGSTOKE GAZETTE

FULL REVIEW

“ For anyone studying Jane Eyre, or keen to revisit a much-loved classic, this is a fine night out 

GUILDFORD DRAGON

FULL REVIEW

“ If you saw their previous show, you know you in for something rather special. And if not, prepare yourself for a treat as the company are very adept at putting on high quality and inventive theatre…

The quality of the acting is excellent…

Blackeyed Theatre are masters of their craft 

CHOICE RADIO

FULL REVIEW

“ An exciting adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre…

The style of performance delivered by Blackeyed Theatre gives the audience everything they need, and nothing they don’t…

I could hear people around me crying, laughing and gasping 

PLUTONIUM SOX

FULL REVIEW