Jane Eyre. The Musical in Dorset

Today, April 11 opens in Dorset, UK a new amateur production of John Caird and Paul Gordon's Jane Eyre. The Musical.

The press release can be found here and was previously published on the Brontë Parsonage Blog:

One of the South’s most successful youth theatre companies has embarked on its most ambitious project yet, and it’s leaving nothing to chance. The Big Little Theatre School brings new levels of professionalism to its production of the Broadway show “Jane Eyre - A Musical Drama” with West End directors and specialist stage effects and set design. (...)

Directing is Graham Hubbard whose impressive achievements include directing West End productions of Amadeus, Sweeney Todd and Mack and Mabel. “The challenge of producing “Jane Eyre - The Musical” for Big Little was irresistible”, says Graham. “The company’s talent belies their age, and who better to bring Charlotte Bronte’s classic love story to a new generation than performers from that generation itself”. Musical Director Colin Billing has recently been working on the West End production of Avenue Q as well as the international tours of Mamma Mia and Chess, and is a regular musical director and vocal coach at the prestigious London School of Musical Theatre. “Forget everything you ever feared about youth productions”, says Colin. “The huge vocal talent and natural acting ability of the cast is more than a match for the moving lyrics and sumptuous musical score.”

Natasha Barnes from Ringwood plays Jane Eyre. Natasha is no stranger to lead performances, amateur and professional. She played the title role in The Diary of Anne Frank, Cosette in Les Miserables in Concert with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Marta Von Trapp in the The Sound of Music and the title role of Annie in Fastlane’s Touring company for the National Youth Music Theatre. Natasha has also worked extensively for BBC Radio Drama, performing in classic serials and radio plays including The Day I Finished Off Charlotte Bronte. Natasha studies singing with the renowned Tenor ‘Jon Andrew’ and works locally with him and the Silhouette Opera supporting local charities.

The part of Rochester is played by John Sandberg from Bournemouth. John is a prominent member of the BLTS ‘Vision’ Cabaret group and recently performed as the lead, R.P McMurphy in One flew Over the Cuckoos Nest with Poole Grammar School. Operatically trained by Jon Andrew, John was also one of the few selected to perform in Children of Eden, the Steven Schwartz Broadway hit as produced by BLTS in 2006.

A total cast of 45 young people, selected via auditions from the 250 strong main company are involved in bringing “Jane Eyre – The Musical” to the stage, and the production will benefit from 21st Century imagery and sensory set design to create an authentic feel for the period. The set has been designed to transport the audience seamlessly from the cold dormitories of Lowood School, through bleak English moorland, to the interior of a Gothic mansion. Superb costumes reflect the fashions of the 19th century by recreating authentic colours and fabrics from the Bronte era.

Jane Eyre - The Musical
Regent Centre , 51 High Street, Christchurch, Dorset, UK

Wednesday 11th, Thursday 12th, Friday 13th and Saturday 14th April 2007 at 7.30pm
Thursday and Saturday, Matinees at 2.30pm.

For any further information contact: julie.barnes@biglittletheatreschool.co.uk

Categories: Jane Eyre, Music, Theatre