Flock Theatre presents a new adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel Jane Eyre. The Zoom production, which supplements live-action performances with shadow puppetry, launches for indefinite streaming on YouTube November 6 at 7 p.m. EST.
Jane Eyre, an orphan in early nineteenth-century England, overcomes a loveless childhood to become governess to the ward of the enigmatic Mr. Rochester. Jane soon believes she’s found the home and the love she’s always yearned for, but Mr. Rochester’s dark secrets threaten to keep them apart. Blending gothic romance with a powerful story of personal growth, Jane Eyre explores one woman’s struggle to find love and independence despite barriers of gender, class, and circumstance. Leading the cast are Julie Butters of Salem, Mass., as Jane, Eric Michaelian of New London, Conn., as Mr. Rochester, and Sydney Nunes of Gales Ferry, Conn., as young Jane.
“Jane is fiercely determined to control her own destiny and stay true to her convictions despite immense external pressure,” says Butters, who adapted Jane Eyre and, previously, Little Women for Flock. “That makes her as compelling today as in 1847 when the novel was published.”
Jane Eyre is Flock’s third Zoom film, following this summer’s Romeo & Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing. Originally planned as live performances, these plays were produced as films with costumed actors recording from their respective locations. Jane Eyre’s shadow puppetry was co-designed by Executive Artistic Director Derron Wood—whose mask and puppetry work has taken the company to the Lincoln Center Out of Doors festival and the National Puppetry Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center—with the rest of the Flock team, Noah Todd and Victor Chiburis. Wood directed Jane Eyre with assistant direction by Chiburis. A live performance of the play is expected at a later date.
Access to Jane Eyre (runtime approx. 110 minutes) is free, with a suggested donation of $15 to $20. The donation link and film trailer are available at flocktheatre.org/janeeyre. Provided photos: Courtesy of Flock Theatre.
Streaming beginning November 6 at 7 p.m. EST Access is free, donations are welcome at flocktheatre.org/janeeyre Adapted by Julie Butters from the novel by Charlotte Brontë Directed by Derron Wood Assistant Directed/Edited by Victor Chiburis
Cast, in order of appearance
| John Reed | LIAM CAROLAN | Young Jane/ Molly | SYDNEY NUNES | Mrs. Reed | LIZ BINGER | Mr. Brocklehurst/ Rev. Wood | CHRISTIE WILLIAMS | Helen Burns/ Alice | JOLIE ISENBURG | Miss Scatcherd/Blanche Ingram/ Diana Rivers | CASSIE SEIDEL | Jane Eyre | JULIE BUTTERS | Mrs. Fairfax/ Hannah | KACEY ELFSTROM | Adèle Varens | EDEN MILLER | Bertha Mason | MADELEINE DAUER | Grace Poole | AIMEE BLANCHETTE | Mr. Rochester | ERIC MICHAELIAN | Lady Ingram | DENISE SHULTZMAN | Richard Mason | VICTOR CHIBURIS | Briggs | MICHAEL STANKOV | Mary Rivers | MEG ALLEN | St. John Rivers | NOAH TODD | Shepherd | GEORGE DOWKER |
The Flock Theatre
Flock Theatre is a professional, nonprofit theatre company based in New London, Connecticut, committed to working with any community they’re invited into to find the theatre that best suits the needs of that community. Starting as a street theatre company in Boston in the late 1980s, the fledgling troupe eventually settled in southeastern Connecticut by the early 90s. With focuses in classics, puppetry, and education, Flock has created theatre that is immersive, site-specific, historical, and unique. Their Summer Shakespeare in the Arboretum at Connecticut College is the longest uninterrupted festival of its kind in the region, and their Burning of Benedict Arnold Festival combines pageantry with historical drama to bring to life American history and tradition.
Flock has worked with numerous organizations, artists, and communities to produce their singular brand of theatre, such as The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, The National Puppetry Conference, The New London County Historical Society, The Connecticut Office of the Arts, Mystic Seaport Museum, Yale Center for British Art, Lincoln Center’s Out of Doors festival, The Chorus of Westerly, and more.
For more info please email flocktheatre@hotmail.com.
Last modified 4 December 2020