Jane Eyre

Bristol Old Vic Theatre

5 Stars

Bristol Old Vic's devised two-part adaptation of Jane Eyre eschews a costumed, historic romance approach for a stylised revitalisation of this well-known classic.

Sally Cookson's fluent and imaginative direction of her 10-strong cast, including four musicians, successfully attempts to show that Bronte's tale is larger than a love story, more a life in the shaping, which really necessitates both parts being seen together.

The production sets out its stall from the outset with Michael Vale's dynamic set of a a ramp, walkway and platform with a series of angled ladders wrapped around the orchestra on a floating stage bounded by towering white drapes.

Madeleine Worrel's baby-like cries as Jane announces her birth and then, integrated throughout with folk-inspired music, the cast recounts Jane's harrowing childhood that shapes her stoically philosophic nature and suppresses her natural passions. Costumes float in from on high to mark the changes of state as her story unfolds.

Moments of inspired physical theatre invest Jane's experiences with memorable clarity. There's a breakneck carriage ride simulated by synchronised on-the-spot running, a series of matches struck into flaming buckets marking an early fire at Thornfield Hall and Jane's dress is swept behind her by the cast to reveal her caught by the elements, mirroring her sense of growing independence as governess.

Atmospheric lighting captures and frames key moments as the actors' explorations of the multilayered set suggest time passing, Jane's endurance and the scale of Rochester's gothic mansion. Constantly lurking in the background is the contrasting red-clad figure of Rochester's first wife (Melanie Marshall). Her rich and powerful vocals infuse Jane's traumatic life journey with Benji Bower's largely original score, which only occasionally strikes a discordant note with the inclusion of well-known songs.

With the cast working tirelessly as an ensemble it's hard to highlight any individual performance, although Craig Edwards's faithful hound is the essence of fitful doginess and Felix Hayes, a blunt and brooding Rochester, provides moments of real intensity in his emotional outbursts to Jane.

At the heart of the piece though is Madeleine Worrel's captivating performance as the enduring eponymous heroine, whose determined sense of what is right and just, simmering just below the surface of her largely inscrutable demeanour, shapes her indomitable spirit.

Coming on the back of planning permission and sizeable grants to restore the 1760s facade of this beautiful theatre, the Bristol Old Vic are justly proud of their latest artistic and redevelopment successes.

Runs until March 29. Box office: (0117) 987-7877.