A new production of Anne Dudley's Jane Eyre musical adaptation opens today in Billingham, UK:
by Anne Dalton Forum Theatre Billingham 23/09/2026 to 26/09/2026
Experience the passion, mystery and romance of Jane Eyre - The Musical, from award-winning writer Anne Dalton, creator of the internationally acclaimed Her Benny — winner of the International Quest for New Musicals. Starring Janet Cowley (The Phantom of the Opera), alongside Peter Brindle (A Christmas Carol), Elena Porter, Megan Hughes and Peter Chapman (Joseph), this sweeping new production brings Charlotte Brontë’s beloved classic thrillingly to life. New to the story or a lifelong fan? Be transported through eerie Yorkshire mists, haunting secrets and soaring emotion in this powerful Gothic musical filled with unforgettable songs, sparkling dialogue and breathtaking drama. Follow Jane from her difficult childhood to the grandeur of Thornfield Hall, where she meets the darkly charismatic Mr Rochester — a man hiding a devastating secret. Intelligent, independent and fiercely determined, Jane proves more than a match for her brooding employer. Will love conquer the shadows of the past? Laugh, cry and be swept away by this truly magical theatrical experience.
In The Telegraph and Argus, Brontë Parsonage Museum director, Rebecca Yorke, discusses the proposed West Yorkshire tourism levy. Rebecca Yorke, director of the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth, said: "We have not consulted our local accommodation partners or our visitors about the possible introduction of an overnight visitor levy, but understand why there might be concerns. "The current economic climate continues to put pressure on the budgets of businesses and visitors alike and many tourist destinations have already been impacted by increased costs, e.g. the price of fuel and car parking charges." She stressed the need for transparency if a levy is introduced. Ms Yorke said: "While the introduction of a tourism levy will bring us in line with many European destinations, we believe it's important that its purpose is clearly communicated and articulates how the income generated by it will be used." (Amelia Short)
Awards Watch reviews the new film adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility while reminding readers of the fact that: Just this year, Emerald Fennell crafted her own spin on Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights,” and Christopher Nolan struck box office gold with his version of “The Odyssey,” proving there is always new material to mine, even if it makes literary purists uneasy. (Sophia Ciminello) Southern Living lists '23 Books To Read When You Want To Cozy Up On A Rainy Day' including Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë A gothic story of longing set between two neighboring estates in a bleak northern England setting, Wuthering Heights follows multiple generations of love stories between destructive characters and passionate romantic tangles. Obsessive love, social class, and even a few ghostly hauntings come into play in this page-turner that feels like one endless rainy day. (Arabella Hau)
Vanguardia (Mexico) also includes Wuthering Heights on an autumn reading list.
The Real Love Story Behind Jane Eyre Was Much Darker Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Jane Eyre, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.
An online alert from the Brontë Birthplace: Tuesday 22 September 2026 via Zoom at 18.30
Dr Maebh O’ Regan’s talk examines the art of Branwell Brontë, with special focus on his process and practice. Collaboration and rivalry were the driving forces behind the Brontë siblings’ creative endeavours, but given the Victorian construction of masculinity, where the male was the breadwinner and, in every way superior to the female, Branwell had his limitations. Charlotte was the first member of the Brontë family to achieve success as a visual artist. In 1834 she had two drawings accepted for the summer exhibition in the Royal Society for Encouragement of the Fine Arts in Leeds, and these architectural landscapes were displayed in company with the work of such established artists as J. M.W. Turner. 1834 was also the year when Emily and Anne joined forces creating their first diary paper in visual and verbal format. Branwell’s initial work in oils, The Brontë Sister’s Portrait, also known as The Pillar Portrait, was painted the same year. It’s first critic, Mrs Gaskell, deemed it to be, ‘not much better than a sign painting as to manipulation, but the likenesses were admirable.’ Much of the negative criticism regarding Branwell’s work derives from a lack of understanding of the materials and methods available to a Victorian artist. However, The Pillar Portrait continues to be one of the most popular works in the British National Portrait Gallery. This mysterious painting raises many questions around its composition and content. Why did Charlotte deny the existence of The Pillar Portrait, and why is there no mention of this painting in their family correspondence? What prompted Arthur Bell Nicholls to remove it from its stretcher and to secrete it on top of a wardrobe at his home in Banagher, Ireland? And finally, why did the National Portrait Gallery decide not to restore the work before they put it on display? To address these questions, it is necessary to explore Branwell’s artistic journey in light of the pedagogical standards of the day. The visual arts played a significant role in the lives of all of the Brontë children therefore, it is important to analyse Branwell’s artistic output in conjunction with his creative interaction with his siblings.
A reviewer from NTDaily compares Practical Magic 2 unfavourably with respect to Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights.It is not that every film needs a blockbuster budget to justify its worth, but other mid-budget films released this year, such as “Wuthering Heights" or even “The Sheep Detectives,” do not have these same visual problems. This is despite both films having comparable budgets and similar amounts of CGI to “Practical Magic 2.” (Riley Morgan) A contributor to The Conversation mentions Wide Sargasso Sea in an article about The Other Bennet Sister and new perspectives in reading classic novels. Librotea (in Spanish) lists Jane Eyre among other books in which love wins. Autumn poems on AnneBrontë.org. A new amateur production of Sarah Gordon's Underdog. The Other Other Brontë Sister: Cotswold by Sarah Gordon Cotswold Playhouse Directed by Kate Jackel September 22- September 26 Lizzy Leach as Charlotte, Florence Simpson as Emily and Sophia Hines as Anne, with James McGrath as their brother Branwell.
This is not a story about well-behaved women... This is a story about the power of words. Charlotte Brontë has a confession about how one sister became an idol, and the other became known as the other Brontë. You know the one. No, not that one. The other, other one… Anne. Loud, funny, and heartbreaking, Underdog is an irreverent retelling of the life and legend of the Brontë sisters, and the story of the sibling power dynamics that shaped their uneven rise to fame. Written by Sarah Gordon for the National Theatre and Northern Stage, the play premiered in 2024.
Further information in Shroud News & Journal<
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