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Underdog: The Other Other Brontë

a new play by Sarah Gordon
a co-production with Northern Stage

Three women stand together, all facing to camera, the middle one, slightly higher than the others, seems to be trying to push the others, who each hold a pen, aside. All wear red shirts and skirts and the middle one has a large red bow tied at her collar.

Booking and details

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Reader, I think you know who is most quotable.

Charlotte Brontë has a confession about how one sister became an idol, and the other became known as the third sister. You know the one. No, not that one. The other, other one… Anne.

This is not a story about well-behaved women.

This is a story about the power of words. It’s about sisters and sisterhood, love and jealousy, support and competition.

Directed by Northern Stage Artistic Director Natalie Ibu (The White Card), Sarah Gordon’s (The Edit) new play 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.

Performed 27 March — 25 May 2024 in the Dorfman Theatre.

★★★★★

‘A revelation’

The i

‘Playful and visually witty’

Evening Standard

★★★★

‘Richly entertaining’

The Reviews Hub

‘Quick-witted drama’

Guardian

★★★★

‘Raucously funny’

London Theatre

‘Blunt, funny and wilfully anachronistic’

Time Out

‘Written with passion and wit’

WhatsOnStage

★★★★

‘Vivid and raucous’

Daily Express

8 Reviews

Video

Three women all dressed in red are standing in front of a camera making various facial expressions. The woman on the right stares into the camera looking surprised. The women on the left is looking away from the camera and the women in the middle is staring intensly into the camera. Behind them is a red backdrop.
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Trailer

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Four actors on stage dressed in striped blue period costumes with top hats, engaged in a lively conversation, against a stark black backdrop.
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Clip

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Gallery

Three actresses on stage in a period drama setting, portraying a scene with joyful expressions. One in a blue dress sits smiling, another in a red dress reads a letter, and the third in a dark dress leans over her shoulder, all against a simple wooden backdrop.
Three actresses on stage in a period drama setting, portraying a scene with joyful expressions. One in a blue dress sits smiling, another in a red dress reads a letter, and the third in a dark dress leans over her shoulder, all against a simple wooden backdrop.
Three actresses on stage in a period drama setting, portraying a scene with joyful expressions. One in a blue dress sits smiling, another in a red dress reads a letter, and the third in a dark dress leans over her shoulder, all against a simple wooden backdrop.
View 11 images
Four actors on stage dressed in striped blue period costumes with top hats, engaged in a lively conversation, against a stark black backdrop. An actor on stage, dressed in a purple waistcoat and white shirt, gazes thoughtfully at a blue book he is holding up A tense stage scene with four actors in red holding candles around an actress in a purple dress, their faces illuminated by the candlelight, creating a dramatic atmosphere. An actress stands caring for a seated actor on a dark stage, both in period costumes. Two actresses sit on a red bed with thoughtful expressions, while a third stands confidently in a red dress, against a dark stage with hanging foliage Two actors on stage laughing and sharing a moment, one holding a drink, both in colorful period waistcoats and white shirts Actors in period costumes on a stage carriage, one in a red shirt and top hat driving, and the other in a purple dress and bonnet, with focused expressions. A vibrant dance scene on stage with six performers in 19th-century costume striking dynamic poses, with one actress in red observing from the side next to a table with props under a canopy of hanging foliage Actress in a striking red dress stands center stage, hands on hips, surrounded by an array of moorland flora, against a wooden backdrop, illuminated by spotlight.

Production images

Three women having a conversation, each with a wine glass. The woman on the left has brown curly hair and is sat on the floor. The woman in the middle has short brown hair and is sat on a chair, gesturing with her hands. The woman on the right has brown hair is sat on the edge of a wooden table.
Three women having a conversation, each with a wine glass. The woman on the left has brown curly hair and is sat on the floor. The woman in the middle has short brown hair and is sat on a chair, gesturing with her hands. The woman on the right has brown hair is sat on the edge of a wooden table.
Three women having a conversation, each with a wine glass. The woman on the left has brown curly hair and is sat on the floor. The woman in the middle has short brown hair and is sat on a chair, gesturing with her hands. The woman on the right has brown hair is sat on the edge of a wooden table.
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Six people in rehearsals. Three people are wearing old travelling cloaks over their casual clothes, four are holding smoking pipes, and two are holding newspapers. There are various chairs throughout the space. A woman and a man holding each other at arms length with happy expressions. The woman has short brown hair and is wearing a blue plaid jumpsuit. The man has brown curly hair and is wearing an orange shirt. A woman with brown hair sat on the floor at the end of a bed. She is writing with a yellow quill on some paper, using a model-antique writing slope. Two men holding drinking glasses and looking incredulously at each other. The man on the left has black curly hair with a fade, and is wearing a light brown t-shirt. The man on the right has brown curly hair and is wearing an orange shirt. A woman with brown curly hair crouched down to hold a man kneeling. She is wearing a pink jumper and he is wearing a green jumper. They are both on top of a wooden table. A woman with ginger box braids, wearing patterned glasses and a dark blue jumper. She is gesturing with her hands with one hand extended and the other close to her chest. There is a script and purple water bottle on the table in front of her. A man and a woman stood in front of two microphones on stands. The man has black curly hair with a fade, and is holding a candle. The woman has brown hair, and is holding a script. A man with short brown hair, wearing a travelling cloak and holding a smoking pipe. Two women holding slips of paper. The woman on the left has short brown hair and is wearing a blue plaid jumpsuit. The woman on the right has brown hair and is wearing a grey jumper. She has her back to the other woman and an upset expression. A man with short brown hair and glasses holding up a large black ribbed tube. The tube goes from the floor up onto the stage and into someone else's hands. A woman with dark curly hair, wearing a pink jumper and holding a slip of paper. She is reading the paper with a disappointed expression. A woman with brown hair wearing a bonnet and cloak, holding a worn travelling bag. She is holding her bonnet to her head with one hand with a shocked and upset expression. A woman with short brown hair, wearing a blue plaid jumpsuit and holding a newspaper. She is looking over the top of the newspaper with an upset expression.

Rehearsal images

Suitability

Please note: This production contains explicit language, and themes of grief/death and addiction. It contains depictions of attempted suicide that some may find distressing.
More advice and guidance

Supporters

This production is supported by Red Butterfly Foundation. This is an Edgerton New Plays Commission. New Play Commissions are also supported by the Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation

Cast

Nick Blakeley

Nick Blakeley

Mrs Ingham/ Elizabeth Gaskell/ Ensemble

Rhiannon Clements

Rhiannon Clements

Anne Brontë

Adam Donaldson

Adam Donaldson

Thomas Newby/ Mr Brocklehurst/ Ensemble

Adele James

Adele James

Emily Brontë

Kwaku Mills

Kwaku Mills

Tabby/ Cunliffe/ Ensemble

Julian Moore-Cook

Julian Moore-Cook

George Smith/ Mr Heger/ Ensemble

James Phoon

James Phoon

Branwell Brontë/ Ensemble

Gemma Whelan

Gemma Whelan

Charlotte Brontë

Production team

Playwright

Sarah Gordon

Sarah Gordon

Director

Natalie Ibu

Natalie Ibu

Set and Costume Designer

Grace Smart

Grace Smart

Lighting Designer

Zoe Spurr

Zoe Spurr

Sound Designer and Additional Music

Alexandra Faye Braithwaite

Alexandra Faye Braithwaite

Movement Director

Ingrid Mackinnon

Ingrid Mackinnon

Fight and Intimacy Director

Haruka Kuroda

Haruka Kuroda

Casting Director

Naomi Downham

Naomi Downham

Dialect Coach

Charmian Hoare

Charmian Hoare

Company Voice Work

Shereen Ibrahim

Shereen Ibrahim

Associate Lighting Designer

Charlotte Burton

Charlotte Burton

Associate Movement Director

Ana Beatriz Meireles

Ana Beatriz Meireles

Staff Director

Natasha Haws

Natasha Haws

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What's on guide

Download a pdf of the latest guide (2MB)

Download a pdf of the latest guide in Alternative format (1.4MB)

 

 

 

Photography (Rhiannon Clements, Gemma Whelan, Adele James) by Felicty McCabe.
Art direction and design by National Theatre Graphic Design Studio.