York Theatre Royal – 10th March 2022
Reviewed by Aimee Liddington
4****
Old meets new in Haworth, Bradford as the Brontë sisters are placed in a 21st century hair salon. Charlotte is strong-minded, clever and ambitious. Emily is fiercely independent and has a deep love for nature. Anne is cheerful and gentle and a feminist through and through. Each of them is different yet they all share a wonderful talent for writing.
Written by Kirsty Smith and Kat Rose-Martin, this modern take on three of England’s best known female writers is well worth a watch. Keeley Lane, Joëlle Brabban and Stephanie Rutherford who play Charlotte, Emily and Anne respectively embody the image of a true Yorkshire lass and encapsulate the personality of each of the Brontë sisters. From the first few seconds of the production, it was clear which actress was playing which sister and their characterisation only got better as the show went on.
In a time where older literary works may be pushed aside for something more contemporary, it is important for us to protect national jewels like Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. What better way to do that then to liken the authors to women who exist in today’s day and age? In fact, this production makes you question whether women today are really altogether that different to women from the 19th century. Add a few up-to-date cultural references and a bit of modern music from sound designer Christella Litras and many young women are able to resonate with the hopes, dreams and frustrations of the Brontë sisters.
Costumes and set by Kevin Jenkins are realistic and are elegantly simple, paving the way for the talents of the actresses and director, Chantell Walker, to be highlighted. Walker’s direction is dynamic as she plays with levels and uses the forefront and background of the stage to highlight each character in turn. Additionally, her use of physical theatre alongside musical interludes breaks up the dialogue to provide some variety throughout.
Whether you are more of a Charlotte, Emily or Anne, Jane Hair provides something for everyone. If you haven’t read their stories yet, you’ll leave the theatre feeling excited to get started. For something classic with a modern twist, get yourself down to the Brontë’s hair salon.