Jane Eyre

Charlotte Bronte

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9781350350274
• eBook ISBN: 9781783199068
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

Almost 170 years on, Charlotte Brontë's story of the trailblazing Jane is as inspiring as ever. This bold and dynamic production uncovers one woman's fight for freedom and fulfilment on her own terms. From her beginnings as a destitute orphan, Jane Eyre's spirited heroine faces life's obstacles head-on, surviving poverty, injustice and the discovery of bitter betrayal before taking the ultimate decision to follow her heart. This inventive staging of Brontë's masterpiece was first staged by Bristol Old Vic in 2014, when the story was performed over two evenings. Director Sally Cookson now brings her celebrated production to the National Theatre, presented as a single, exhilarating performance.

Act One

PROLOGUE JANE IS ORPHANED

A drone.

The musicians and ensemble enter and take positions around the stage. JANE enters alone, walks along the gantry and down the ramp on to the stage. She makes the cry of a newborn baby. She remains on stage watching the rest of the prologue unfold.

The ensemble look on and individually announce the new arrival.

VOICES: It’s a girl…it’s a girl…it’s a girl.

The drone builds to a peak. One of the ensemble becomes JANE’s MOTHER. The Others turn towards her standing on the platform, holding a bundle of clothes in her arms, representing a baby.

VOICES: (All, choral.) It’s a girl!

Another ensemble member becomes JANE’s FATHER. He climbs up the ladder to join her MOTHER on the platform. They look at the baby adoringly, excited new parents. JANE’s MOTHER hands the baby over to the FATHER with great care. He holds her nervously. The baby cries softly.

FATHER: Jane.

MOTHER: Jane Eyre.

FATHER: Hello.

The baby gives another cry. BERTHA begins singing the ballad.

In the days I went a dancing

Nor thought of care or woe

The lads and lasses in their best

A long time ago

The parents carry baby JANE down off the platform, across the stage and up the ramp, passing her between them for safety. JANE follows their progress, watching. They move to the gantry. The band begins to play.

As they journey across the stage JANE’s father appears to weaken. He begins to collapse very slowly. The ensemble mirror this collapse. The baby cries. He hands the baby over to JANE’s mother as he finally falls. JANE moves to be near him as he does so.

JANE’s mother is alone with the baby. JANE stands beside her and watches.

AUNT and UNCLE REED put on their costumes and they create a formal picture as the Gateshead portraits fly in. The baby cries and UNCLE REED sets off towards her along the gantry. JANE’s mother is collapsing. She hands the baby over to him as she finally falls.

AUNT REED watches from the top of the platform. UNCLE REED brings the baby down the ramp to show her.

UNCLE REED: Hush, little one. You’re safe now… You have my sister’s nose.

AUNT REED: She’ll need a wet nurse.

UNCLE REED: She shall have a wet nurse.

AUNT REED: What a sickly looking little thing.

UNCLE REED: She’s beautiful. Call the children.

AUNT REED: Eliza! Georgiana! John!

The children gather around AUNT REED on the platform, looking down at UNCLE REED as he gazes at the baby. BERTHA sings.

UNCLE REED: Children, meet your cousin Jane. You are to think of her as your sister.

The children look uncertainly at AUNT REED. She comes down from the platform and joins UNCLE REED. He takes her hand, impressing on her what she must do.

UNCLE REED: Sarah. You must look after her. She is family.

He hands AUNT REED the baby, lifts the trap door. BERTHA holds it open for him.

UNCLE REED: Promise me you will take care of her… Promise me!

AUNT REED: I promise.

The children come down from the platform and gather round AUNT REED as UNCLE REED descends under the stage, closing the trap as he goes. AUNT REED holds the baby at arm’s length. As the music reaches a crescendo she shakes out the bundle and it becomes the dress that JANE will wear. As BERTHA finishes singing the ballad, AUNT REED strides across to where JANE is standing and roughly pulls the dress over her head and does up the buttons. JANE is a child now, living with her cousins at Gateshead.

The mountains stand before me

The rivers running wild

The wind it howls the rain it falls

Upon this orphan child

JANE stands awkwardly in her dress on one side of the stage. The Reed family are gathered opposite, regarding her with suspicion. They look out to the audience as the scene ends.

SCENE ONE
JANE CLASHES WITH JOHN REED

A clap of thunder, the sound of heavy rain falling. AUNT REED calls to the children.

AUNT REED: Children, come in quickly. John, Georgiana, Eliza, hurry!

They gather with AUNT REED on the ramp.

AUNT REED: Oh my darlings, you’re soaked. Come and sit by the fire. Get yourselves dry. I’ll have Bessie bring some hot milk and cinnamon buns. Bessie? Bessie?

The children go up the ramp as if going inside. AUNT REED follows, looking for BESSIE. Music. JANE is alone under the platform. She swings on it aimlessly, lost in thought. AUNT REED returns looking for BESSIE and is surprised to discover JANE.

AUNT REED: Bessie!? Jane? Why are you in here? You were supposed to be outside with the other children. Well? Have you anything to say for yourself?

JANE: What have I done Aunt Reed?

AUNT REED: I do not like questioners, Jane. Until you learn to behave like a happy, contented child then I must exclude you from the privileges enjoyed by the others. Tiresome child, off with you… Go on. Bessie?! Where are those buns?

AUNT REED leaves. JANE goes to her sanctuary on the platform and finds a book.

JANE: Bewick’s History of British Birds.

She leafs through the pages.

JANE: Northern diver…osprey…cormorant….arctic tern…. The...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Act One
• Act Two