What’s On: Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre comes ‘home’ with Northern Ballet performances in Leeds and Sheffield
The classic tale of Jane Eyre is being brought to life in spectacular style as one of Charlotte Brontë’s best-known novels is performed by the Northern Ballet in Leeds and Sheffield. Tickets are on sale now.
Leeds-based Northern Ballet is bringing the iconic tale of passion and rebellion to home ground for a stunning new production.
Their performances always manage to delight ballet enthusiasts and enchant first-time ballet audiences. The acclaimed production is at Leeds Grand Theatre from March 14 - 22, then at Sheffield Lyceum from April 22- 26 – tickets are on sale here.
This production, directed and choreographed by Cathy Marston with live music composed by Philip Feeney, has already received glowing reviews. The Northern Ballet’s unique mix of exquisite dancing with theatrical story-telling drama, make their productions accessible yet complex, as well as intriguing and entertaining.
“Cathy Marston displays a novelist’s touch in layering characters in her wonderfully choreographed show for Northern Ballet,” said The Guardian, while the Telegraph reviewer enthused: “Northern Ballet’s new Jane Eyre is a beautiful and expressive tribute to Brontë.”
The Yorkshire Post reviewer gave it five stars, writing: “Jane Eyre has been reimagined a thousand times before, but maybe never quite so perfectly as this production by Northern Ballet.”
The dancers
Dominique Larose who is playing Jane Eyre, said: “Themes like resilience, independence and love profoundly influence my performance because they are at the core of who Jane is—both as a character and as a woman. One of the great challenges of portraying characters who feel so ‘real’ is that they are far more complex than mystical or fantastical figures.
“I’m so excited to dance Jane Eyre in Leeds because it’s such an iconic northern story, and there’s something so special about performing it in the north. You can feel how much the audiences connect with it — it’s truly a beloved classic of northern English literature. Bringing this character to life on home soil feels particularly meaningful, and I hope to do Jane justice and honour the deep connection audiences have to her story.”
Joseph Taylor explains how he feels in the role of Mr Rochester:
“I see Jane Eye as physical theatre production or a silent play told through dance. Not your traditional classical tutu but a modern way of bringing a classic story to life through the medium of art. It pushes the boundaries of where narrative ballet is in the 21st century.
“We always have a great fan base in Leeds and the Leeds Grand Theatre is such a beautiful venue. It feels so fitting for the ballet to be performed in Yorkshire, so close to where the Brontes grew up and took inspiration for their timeless novels.”
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Charlotte Brontë wrote from her parsonage home in Haworth and the brooding landscape of the Yorkshire moors is embedded in every page of Jane Eyre.
In the story, Jane is an educated woman who makes her own way in the world and when she accepts a position as governess at Thornfield Hall, doesn’t expect to fall in love with the brooding Mr Rochester.
Experience the twists and turns of her life in a towering manor house and sweeping Yorkshire moors. With heart-stirring choreography that captures the essence, watch Jane’s journey unfold.
Book tickets now
Book now for Leeds or Sheffield, and find out more about other performances including at Nottingham Theatre Royal in April and Sadler’s Wells, London and Norwich Theatre Royal in May.
Visit the website here to find out more and to book.
Future productions
There’s more romance, passion and tragedy when Northern Ballet present Romeo & Juliet this summer. The greatest love story ever told is back – as Northern Ballet’s electrifying production returns to Leeds Playhouse June 18 - 21. In this ultimate tale of forbidden love, Shakespeare’s story of two young people risking everything to be together, is told through dance.
More star-crossed lovers feature in Merlin from September 13 - 20 at Leeds Grand Theatre, as Northern Ballet tells the story of two kingdoms at war and one boy with a whole lot of magic. Discover how the world’s most famous sorcerer mastered his powers in the epic adventure you’ve been waiting for. Spectacular sets and costumes are coupled with mind-boggling special effects, world-class dance and even a dragon.
Could there be anything more breathtakingly magical at Christmas time than The Nutcracker? Northern Ballet’s glorious telling of this magical festive story will be performed from December 18 to January 4 At Leeds Grand Theatre.
Tickets for these productions are on sale now.