The Australian Premiere of Brontë, written by Polly Teale, and presented by ThreeSisters Productions and Metro Arts Independents, opens on September 10 of this year. Four weeks. Things are heating up.

Teale's brilliant play explores how three isolated, Victorian women became the greatest literary family in the history of English literature. How did three sisters, who had never had sex - were probably never even kissed -produce  these  passionate, sensual novels, which include Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre.

 It's the first production for ThreeSisters, an independent theatre company based in Brisbane and run by three ambitious local girls - Hannah Levien, myself (Kathryn Marquet) and Rebecca Roberts. We started ThreeSisters to create work that we could perform in, and give other actors and creatives the chance to work as well. It's an exhausting process, producing and acting in a show, but we are enjoying ourselves, and it's an empowering, frightening, thrill-a-minute ride.

Brontë was lucky enough to be adopted by the local foster parents of independent theatre, Metro Arts, and has gathered a team of nurturers around her to make her a home (Kitty Taube, set design), make her clothes (Carolyn Taylor-Smith, costume design), give her family, music (Kylie Morris and Stephen Brodie) and lights (Jason Glenwright) to keep her occupied, and a mother, in the form of her director, Sue Rider.

Here are some of the family pictured above. (from left to right) Rebecca Roberts (Anne Brontë), Kathryn Marquet (Emily Brontë), Kevin Spink (Branwell Brontë), and Hannah Levien (Charlotte Brontë).

 Here is the famous, original portrait of the Brontë sisters, painted by their brother, Branwell. Branwell was originally in the portrait, but he painted himself out. The sisters are positioned in the same way as our photo, with Emily, Anne, Branwell, then Charlotte pictured from left to right.

We are counting down to the last four weeks of rehearsal. The set design is in place, and will be built this week. The music and lighting designs are brimming with creativity and the overall effect will be haunting, meshing the past with the present.

You can find out more or book at http://www.metroarts.com.au/.

We'll keep you posted.

Kathryn Marquet