Jane Eyre Convention at Just the Tonic at the Mash House Review
As you enter the Snifter Room at Just the Tonic at Mash House, you are given a lanyard and offered a piece of shortbread, welcoming you to the Jane Eyre Convention.
More or less a reenactment of the Bronte novel, the piece focuses on four fans, well, three and a woman dropped off by her boyfriend because she has the same name as the protagonist, even if spelt differently. As they act out Jane Eyre, they learn about how the book is viewed today, but also its influences on their lives. The cast gel well together, never overshadowing each other and having their distinguishable personalities. But it does have to be said that Eleanor Zeal and Ben Everett Riley stand out as a true highlight, at times almost squabbling to the extent of mother and son.
There isn’t much substance to the piece outside of Jane Eyre, we learn little things here and there but never overtakes the performance of the book. I didn’t really know anything about Jane Eyre going into this show and felt like it was explained well without ever going into high school English territory. The piece might have benefitted by a little more physicality or bringing some more comedy, as there were jokes here and there but I did struggle to tell if people were laughing or not.
Jane Eyre Convention is an exciting way to learn the story written by Charlotte Bronte without ever diverging off into other plots. You will leave wanting to dawn a bonnet and run through the moors, before heading home for shortbread and a cup of Yorkshire tea.
★★★
Written by Kerry for Theatre and Tonic, August 2026.