Why We’re Still Haunted by Jane Eyre: NEW Article for The Lighthouse Magazine
A cold and clear moonlit night seemed the perfect time to travel back to the bewitching, Gothic realm of Jane Eyre.
A favourite among classic Victorian novels, Charlotte Bronte’s mesmerising tale of the plucky orphan girl’s journey into womanhood and the thorny path to love has been retold myriad ways across the 175 years since its original publication in 1847.
One of the latest takes the form of a theatrical adaptation by shake & stir theatre co, which I was set to review. And so, rugged up against the cold, I made my way to the gorgeously intimate Glen Street Theatre in the Sydney suburb of Belrose.
What followed was an amazing experience: the haunting, moving, dream-or-nightmare-like world of Jane Eyre brought to life on stage through an intelligent, sophisticated, creative and impressive orchestration of clever set design, brilliant sound, lighting and music, and an immensely talented cast who themselves transform as they shift in and out of multiple roles.
This brilliant production made me think about the massive and enduring impact that Jane Eyre has had. Why is it that, 175 years later, we are still so haunted by Jane Eyre?
My latest article for Macquarie University’s The Lighthouse magazine attempts to answer this question by looking at the top three reasons I think we are still drawn to this Gothic story, and then reviewing how the sensational shake & stir theatre co. adaptation combines these elements to weave its magic spell.
Read the story here: https://lighthouse.mq.edu.au/article/june-2022/review-why-were-still-haunted-by-jane-eyre
This story was also featured on Macquarie University’s homepage.
