In this week's Time Off Magazine review of Brontë, Brendan Lindsay wrote, "Lighting designer Jason Glenwright - well, I for one can't think of the theatre ever being so well lit".
I'd like to introduce Jason Glenwright, our lighting designer. Words don't really do justice to the creativity, passion, and genuine talent that Jason has brought to the lighting of Brontë. We are very blessed to have him.
There he is, beside our composer, Kylie Morris, in the picture below, at the first reading
Brontë opened on Wednesday night to a full house. There was a great buzz in the audience after the show, and cast and crew were much relieved to be finally underway. The party went on way into the night...
Here's some great production stills, taken by local photographer Fallen Rose:
Above: (left to right) Charlotte (Hannah Levien), Anne (Rebecca Roberts), and Emily (Kathryn Marquet) look out over their beloved moors.
Above: Patrick (Ron Kelly) encourages his children - Branwell (Kevin
With only one week left until opening, Hannah Levien, who plays Charlotte, talks about the challenge of playing this legendary woman...
At first, the thought of playing Charlotte Bronte left me quite bewildered. As a young reader, I was never particularly drawn to her famed novel Jane Eyre, and, in fact, found Emily Bronte's wild and volatile Wuthering Heights, much more stimulating. Little did I know this fascination of Emily's literary style and freedom would come to be a hugely significant
Cat won't tell you this - but she is one of the most amazing people you are ever likely to meet, and Brontë has been blessed for her being on board. She's a great cook too!
Above: Cat (middle) thinks with things over with director, Sue Rider (right), and costume designer, Carolyn Taylor-Smith (left)
I was so excited when the girls (Kath, Bec & Hannah) told me about the production and I mentioned that I was interested in being involved and
I was born and raised in England and, as my mother was, in her youth, a budding concert pianist turned music teacher, I was surrounded by music from a very early age and developed an avid interest in all things musical and melodic.
As I grew and learned and listened, my formative years became life as music.
My days were spent not talking about how I felt and what I thought but making up songs that could more easily express my emotions and dreams.
Name three Brontë novels...Jane Eyre....Wuthering Heights...yes? Something that Anne wrote? Anne, you say, who's Anne?
You know Anne, the youngest Brontë, author of two novels, passionate feminist, spinster, and generally nice girl. What novels?
Rebecca Roberts will bring Anne Brontë to life in September in our production of Brontë, and, Rebecca reassures us, after seeing this production, the youngest Brontë will no longer rest in the shadow of her older sisters.
1. She was the fifth of six children born to an Irish clergyman educated at Cambridge. Her mother, along with the two eldest children, died before Emily was eight years old, leaving Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne to grow into adulthood. All four children were writers and had stories and poems published, with varying degrees of success, during and after their lives.
2. Charlotte, Emily's older sister, based the title character in her
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
“The first night performance was wonderful. I could not leave my seat at the end. I am proud to live in a city that can produce a thing of such perfection. Please add me to your email list.”
“Thanks again for a wonderful opening night! I loved the production and was genuinely moved. Keep up the great work.”
“I loved it! I had no idea what to expect. I loved every minute.”
