Branwell and the other Brontës – An Exitleft Signature Presentation | 27 May – 1 June 2025

Branwell and the other Brontës
An autobiography by Charlotte Brontë

An Exitleft signature presentation
Playhouse Theatre
May 27 – June 1

“Gentle Reader, right now I am back in our father’s parsonage in Haworth, hampered among the never-ending nothingness of the moors. I stand in a tiny nursery-study. A place where magic can occur.”

Branwell Brontë has always been desperate to keep up with his brilliant sisters Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. As the Brontë women’s stars begin to rise, Branwell uses the familial gift of storytelling to lead his siblings into magical worlds and cushion some of the harsh realities of their real lives, including Branwell’s jealousy over his sisters’ success. But when the magic of their stories begins to fail, Branwell and his sisters must fight to keep destruction and loss from seeping into the real world.

At a time when women were seen and not heard, the idea of three young women from one family gaining fame through their extraordinary writing has seen the legacy of the Brontës inspire readers for nearly two hundred years. This fresh adaption by Stephen Kaplan ties together their poignant fantasy worlds with the reality as a family of struggling artists coping with fame, jealousy, loss and love pulling at the threads of their family bond.

“ This is a most original look at the iconic Brontës. By using a perspective including their one brother, a surprisingly intimate look at the sisters is achieved. The Bronte’s played games like this, I’m sure, and included their dead sisters as a tribute. That would be very Victorian. Keeping suspense and a rollicking rhythm suits a tale for children and adults alike. History has never been so playful.”   Donna Gordon, New Play Exchange

Performances:
Tuesday 27 May, 7:00pm
Wednesday 28 May, 7:00pm
Thursday 29 May, 7:00pm
Friday 30 May, 7:00pm
Saturday 31 May, 2:00pm & 5:00pm
Sunday 1 June, 11am & 3:30pm

The show runs 90 minutes with no interval.

Tickets:
Adults            $45
Conc              $42
Students        $26     (18 years and under)

Branwell and the other Brontës features:
Sasha Bennett as Charlotte Brontë, Eliza Mudge as Emily Brontë, Sophie Johnston as Anne Brontë, Ollie Crease as Branwell Brontë, Charlotte Wright as Maria Brontë and Audrey Young as Elizabeth Brontë.

By Stephen Kaplan
Directed by Lily Ward.

An Amateur Production by arrangement with ORiGiN^TM Theatrical on behalf of Playscripts Inc.