Jane Eyre tour announces casting

Olivia Marcus and Gabriel Akuwudike will lead the cast of a new touring production of Jane Eyre, directed by 2025 Royal Theatrical Support Trust Sir Peter Hall Director Award winner Lily Dyble.

The production, based on Sally Cookson, Mike Akers and the original company’s adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s novel, will premiere at Mercury Theatre Colchester from 26 September to 10 October 2026 before touring to Rose Theatre Kingston, Northern Stage in Newcastle and Storyhouse in Chester.

Marcus (The Mirror and the Light) will play Jane Eyre, with Akuwudike (Arcadia) as Edward Rochester. The cast also includes Aamira Challenger as Grace Poole, Teacher and Diana, Andrea Gatchalian as Helen and Adele, Kate Kordel as Aunt Reed and Mrs Fairfax, and Leo Wan as Brocklehurst and Mason. Millie Faraway will play Bessie and Blanche, Oscar Adams will play John Reed, Reverend and St John, while Robyn Rose-Li will play Bertha.

The production follows Jane, an orphaned young woman who leaves the home of her cruel aunt to become a governess at the house of the brooding Mr Rochester.

Dyble was selected as the recipient of the 2025 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award, which supports emerging directors by giving them the opportunity to direct a mid scale regional production and take it on tour. Jane Eyre is supported by a grant from the Royal Theatrical Support Trust through the award.

The creative team includes set designer Anna Yates, costume designer Khadija Raza, movement director Natasha Harrison, lighting designer Lucía Sánchez Roldán, composer and sound designer Joseff Harris, fight director Rachid Sabitri, intimacy director Haruka Kuroda and casting director Helena Palmer.

Dyble said: “What is at the very heart of Jane Eyre is courage in the face of the unknown. I’m thrilled to be delivering this story to audiences with bravery and risk, made possible by this phenomenal cast and creative team.”

Jane Eyre is a Mercury Theatre Colchester, Rose Theatre and Storyhouse co production, in association with Northern Stage.

The production runs at Mercury Theatre Colchester from Saturday 26 September to Saturday 10 October 2026, with a press performance on Thursday 1 October at 7pm. After that, it will visit the Rose Theatre in Kingston from 13 to 24 October, Northern Stage from 3 to 7 November, and Chester Storyhouse from 10 to 21 November.

There’s definitely Jane Eyre in the air this autumn – a musical adaptation is also playing in London.