I begin, or rather continue, a relationship begun many years ago. Jane, who is not beautiful but is intensely herself, passionate and self-aware. Deprivation has taught her self-containment but she, as all of us, longs for connection. She finds it in the ‘dark, stern’, un-handsome Rochester.
How do you bring to life an archetype, a woman so many of us have lived and loved for so long? I will begin with the text, as I always have, with dog-eared pages and vivid imagination. My favourite screen adaption remains the BBC Ruth Wilson/Toby Stephens adaption (pictured), but the privilege of singing Jane, and with such glorious music as John Joubert has provided, delving into the soul in such a different way than pure speech, is a great one. If you would, follow me as I learn how.