Nadia Clifford, Tim Delap, and More Announced for UK Tour of JANE EYRE

Casting for Sally Cookson's energetic and imaginative new adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's masterpiece, Jane Eyre was announced today (20 February 2017), with Nadia Clifford taking the central role of Jane Eyre and Tim Delap as Rochester.

Manchester born and bred Nadia Clifford's previously appeared at the National Theatre in Alistair McDowell's sell-out production of Pomona and Tim Delap will make his NT debut as Rochester.

They are joined by Hannah Bristow (Helen Burns/Adele/St John/Grace Poole/Abbot), Matthew Churcher (Musician), Alex Heane (Musician), Melanie Marshall (Bertha Mason), Belfast born and bred Paul Mundell (Mr Brocklehurst/Pilot/Mason), Cardiff born David Ridley (musician), Evelyn Miller (Bessie/Blanche Ingram/Diana) and Lynda Rook (Mrs Reed/Mrs Fairfax). The cast is completed by Ben Cutler, Jenny Johns, Dami Olukoya, Francesca Tomlinson and Phoebe Vigor.

2017 marks the 170th anniversary of the first publication of Jane Eyre - a significant time to be touring Charlotte Brontë's classic and much loved story. The highly acclaimed co-production between the National Theatre and Bristol Old Vic opens at The Lowry in Salford on 8 April and will continue its journey around the country to Sheffield, Aylesbury, Plymouth, Southampton, Edinburgh, York, Woking, Glasgow, Richmond, Canterbury, Cardiff, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Milton Keynes, Norwich, Brighton, Leeds, Belfast, Aberdeen and Birmingham.

This exciting new stage version of Jane Eyre was originally presented in two parts at Bristol Old Vic, and then transferred to the National Theatre, re-imagined as a single performance, playing to sold out houses at the NT's Lyttelton Theatre. The production was devised by the original company, with set designs by Michael Vale, costumes by Katie Sykes, lighting by Aideen Malone, music by Benji Bower, sound by Dominic Bilkey, movement by Dan Canham and dramaturgy by Mike Akers.

Director Sally Cookson, said about her production of Jane Eyre: 'Adapting a novel for the stage is a challenging prospect - especially when that novel is cited as many people's favourite of all time. It is always daunting when you're working on a story which everyone knows so well, because you want to surprise and maybe challenge people's expectations, without losing any of the things which make them like the story in the first place.'

Cookson continued: 'I chose this particular title because it's a story that I love and have enjoyed a close relationship with ever since I was intrigued, as a child, by Orson Welles' black and white melodrama with fabulous music by Bernard Herrmann.'

'I didn't actually read the novel until I was in my early twenties and I remember thinking while I read it: 'this is a clarion cry for equal opportunities for women, not a story about a passive female who will do anything for her hunky boss'. I was struck by how modern Jane seemed - her spirit and strong will, her peculiar and brilliant mind striving for personal freedom to be who she is, lashing out against any constraint that prevents her from being herself. She was exactly the sort of person I wanted to be.'

Charlotte Brontë's story of the trailblazing Jane is as inspiring as ever. This bold and dynamic production tells the story of one woman's fight for freedom and fulfilment.

From her beginnings as a destitute orphan, Jane Eyre's spirited heroine faces life's obstacles head-on, surviving poverty, injustice and the discovery of bitter betrayal before taking the ultimate decision to follow her heart.

Cookson is an Associate Artist of Bristol Old Vic, where her productions include Treasure Island and Peter Pan; and elsewhere, Boing! (Sadler's Wells), Cinderella (St James Theatre), an adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's Hetty Feather (West End and UK tour), and Romeo and Juliet (Rose Theatre, Kingston).

Sally Cookson's production of Peter Pan, devised by the original Company, based on the works of JM Barrie, a co-production with the Bristol Old Vic ran successfully at the National Theatre's Olivier Theatre earlier this year.

Jane Eyre Tour Dates

The Lowry, Salford 8-15 April, 2017

Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield 18-22 April 2017

Aylesbury Waterside Theatre 24-29 April 2017

Theatre Royal Plymouth 1-6 May 2017

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton 9-13 May 2017

Festival Theatre, Edinburgh 15-20 May 2017

York Grand Opera House 22-27 May 2017

New Victoria Theatre, Woking 29 May-3 June 2017

Theatre Royal, Glasgow 5-10 June 2017

Richmond Theatre 12-17 June 2017

Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury 19-24 June 2017

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff 27 June-1 July 2017

Theatre Royal, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 3-8 July 2017

Milton Keynes Theatre 10-15 July 2017

Norwich Theatre Royal 17-22 July 2017

Brighton Theatre Royal 24-29 July 2017

Grand Theatre, Leeds 31 July-5 August 2017

Belfast Theatre Royal 21 - 26 August 2017

His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen 28 August-2 September 2017

Birmingham Repertory Theatre 4-16 September 2017

Further dates and venues to be announced

www.janeeyreonstage.co.uk

Photo credit: Manuel Harlan