Olivia Marcus and Gabriel Akuwudike will lead the cast of a major new touring production of Jane Eyre, which opens at the Mercury Theatre Colchester this September before heading out across the UK.
Full casting has now been announced for the new production of Charlotte Brontë’s much-loved classic, with Olivia Marcus starring as Jane Eyre and Gabriel Akuwudike as Edward Rochester.
The production is directed by Lily Dyble, recipient of the 2025 Royal Theatrical Support Trust Sir Peter Hall Director Award, and is based on the acclaimed adaptation created by Sally Cookson, Mike Akers and the original company.
It opens at the Mercury Theatre Colchester from 26 September to 10 October 2026, before visiting the Rose Theatre Kingston, Northern Stage in Newcastle and Storyhouse Chester.
Olivia Marcus and Gabriel Akuwudike lead the Jane Eyre cast
Taking on the title role is Olivia Marcus, whose previous credits include The Mirror and the Light for the RSC and at the Gielgud Theatre, These Demons at Theatre503 and BBC’s Bad Education.
She’ll be joined by Gabriel Akuwudike as Edward Rochester, following appearances in Arcadia at The Old Vic and the RSC’s Hamnet, as well as BBC drama Shetland.
The full Jane Eyre UK Tour 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 takes on John Reed, Reverend and St John, while Robyn Rose-Li will play Bertha.
A new production of a literary classic
Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre remains one of the best-known novels in English literature, following the fiercely independent Jane from a difficult childhood through to her position as governess at the mysterious Thornfield Hall.
There she meets its brooding owner, Edward Rochester.
As intrigue turns to attraction and Jane finds herself increasingly drawn to Rochester, secrets buried within Thornfield threaten everything – ultimately forcing Jane to choose between the man she loves and the woman she is determined to become.
This new touring production is based on the adaptation by Sally Cookson, Mike Akers and the original company, bringing Jane’s story back to stages around the country in autumn 2026.
Lily Dyble directs Jane Eyre
The production marks a significant moment for director Lily Dyble, who was selected as the recipient of the 2025 Royal Theatrical Support Trust Sir Peter Hall Director Award.
The award supports emerging directors by providing the opportunity to direct a mid-scale regional production and subsequently take it on tour.
Speaking about the production, Dyble said that at the heart of Jane Eyre is “courage in the face of the unknown”, adding that she is excited to bring the story to audiences with a sense of bravery and risk.
Joining Dyble on the creative team are Anna Yates on set design, Khadija Raza on costume design, Natasha Harrison as movement director, Lucía Sánchez Roldán on lighting design and Joseff Harris as composer and sound designer.
The creative team is completed by Rachid Sabitri as fight director, Haruka Kuroda as intimacy director and Helena Palmer as casting director.
Where is Jane Eyre touring in 2026?
The currently announced Jane Eyre UK Tour dates are:
Mercury Theatre, Colchester
26 September – 10 October 2026
Rose Theatre, Kingston
13 – 24 October 2026
Northern Stage, Newcastle
3 – 7 November 2026
Storyhouse, Chester
10 – 21 November 2026
The production is a co-production between Mercury Theatre Colchester, Rose Theatre and Storyhouse, in association with Northern Stage. With a strong cast, an award-winning emerging director at the helm and one of literature’s most enduring heroines at its heart, this looks like another interesting addition to the autumn touring theatre calendar.
And with Jane Eyre – A Musical also preparing to make its UK premiere in London this week, it seems there is going to be rather a lot of Brontë on British stages this autumn.
We’ll be keeping an eye on this one as the tour gets underway.
