REVIEW: Jane Eyre ( Southwark Playhouse Elephant)
Star rating: ★★★★★
Based on Charlotte Brontë's novel, the show follows the story of Jane Eyre, who experiences an abusive childhood and strives to navigate life as a strong, independent young woman. Taking a job as a governess at Thornfield Hall, she meets Mr. Rochester.
Directed by John Caird and Megan McGinnis, with music written by Paul Gordon, Southwark Playhouse is known to be an intimate venue and has had some incredible productions over the past couple of years, recently Ballad Lines, Ride the Cyclone, and Redcliff.
Jane Eyre is an eerie, haunting, and wonderfully gothic story with an atmosphere that pulls you in from the very beginning. Paired with an incredibly talented cast and powerful vocals, this makes for a uniquely strong production.
Charlie Burn steps into the role of Jane, bringing such warmth and vulnerability that it results in an exceptionally captivating performance. Rochester is played by Ashley Gilmour, and the connection between the two characters is outstanding, elevated by standout songs like "Sirens" and "Secret Soul."
The venue is quite small, and the production includes a twelve-person cast, but it never feels like too much. The chemistry throughout the show is something you could really feel into the audience. Everyone brings something special to the production, making it truly unique, an absolute emotional overload in the best possible way: beautiful, atmospheric, and incredibly moving.
At the beginning of the show, we are greeted by young Jane, played by the wonderful Emily Rose Samuel (sharing the role with Poppy Jason). The way she portrays young Jane is absolutely captivating, giving such a heartfelt performance.
For this production, it was a clever idea to show us as audience members the raw heartbreak by bringing in a child to play young Jane. I believe it was the best decision they made, instead of just mentioning it. By bringing young Jane into the picture, it gave us the opportunity to connect with grown-up Jane before even setting eyes on her yet.
Later in the show, she steps into the role of Adèle, Rochester’s daughter. Switching smoothly between French and English is very demanding, but Emily Rose does it flawlessly.
What really stood out in this production is the set design created by Morgan Large. He created a beautiful, clever layout adapted to the intimacy of the Southwark Playhouse Elephant. By utilizing projections of a house or shadowy woods, it is incredible to see how seamlessly they can transform the scene without bringing in heavy set pieces.
If you look at the set design and costumes, there are only two colors that you’ll see: black and white. This really feels like part of the storytelling and is perfect for that time period, helping to shape the different characters and bring the world of Jane Eyre to life.
Jane Eyre is playing at The Southwark Playhouse Elpehant until 24th october. More information can be found: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/jane-eyre/
Photos by Victoria Davies
