The scene was set. An eerie, sparse darkness permeated the theatre, and the atmosphere felt apprehensive.
Intimidating structures towered over the stage, creating ominous shadows and setting the audience up for the bleak beginning of ‘Jane Eyre’. At times throughout the show, there were special effects including smoke and controlled fire that added to the visceral feel of the production. Josh McIntosh should be commended for his innovative eye for design.
shake & stir theatre co. have taken on this iconic literary classic and put their own modern spin on it, most notably incorporating an original musical score by multi ARIA Award winner Sarah McLeod who performs it live on stage throughout the play.
Utilising a stripped-back cast with Nelle Lee stepping into the lead role as Jane Eyre, and Helen Howard, Anthony Standish and Sarah McLeod portraying different characters throughout the play. The transition between characters was seamless and worked well, each actor owning their multiple roles with ease.
It’s always challenging to reimagine a story that has been told so many times before. There were elements that worked beautifully, and some that missed the mark. But what shake & stir created was a visually arresting, unique experience and their commitment to pushing conventional constraints is refreshing.
