Literature's most iconic heroine, Jane Eyre, is brought to the stage of Richmond Theatre on the anniversary of Charlotte Brontë's 200th birthday in a powerful and moving performance by Northern Ballet.

In a novel filled with memorable lines and heavy description, language is removed to tell this best-loved tale through body movement alone; choreographer Cathy Marston creates a passionate and dark dance adaptation of the classic story, and stuns the audience with incredible skill, grace and aesthetic appeal.

READ MORE: Dancer Hannah Bateman speaks about her role in Jane Eyre by Northern Ballet

Every dancer in the production shone, with personalised movement styles and impressive skill; Dreda Blow (Jane Eyre) stood out as mastering both elegant and dramatic styles, as well as creating incredible on-stage chemistry with Javier Torres (Mr Rochester). Torres captured the enigmatic hero well, showing true vulnerability in the production's final scene.

Bringing an exciting dimension to the dance was Victoria Sibson as a fiery Bertha Mason; with bare feet and wild, loose hair, Sibson was perfectly suited to the role and added a real passion to the latter half of the production.

A new addition to the ballet included "D-Men", an ensemble of male dancers who came to the stage to symbolise Jane's inner demons; while the idea in itself seemed a little too dramatic for my taste, it really worked as an artistic device and helped to create a visual image of the protagonist's emotions.

Antoinette Brooks-Daw as Young Jane and Kiara Flavin as Helen Burns

The choreography and set design (set and costume design by Patrick Kinmonth; lighting design by Alastair West) worked harmoniously together to create the striking visual world of Brontë's novel where words and description could not.

From the start, regimented and synchronised choreography with a fairly bare set to symbolise the school contrasts wonderfully with the more passionate scenes to highlight Jane's inner turmoil.

In these more emotive scenes, the ballet itself seems wilder, and sheer cloths and curtains are used - as well as lighting - to create flame and shadows, as well as the famous moor landscape. Devices such as real smoke and a multi-tiered set complement the choreography well and give depth to the dancing itself.

A personal highlight was the scene in which Jane dreams of Mr Rochester and wakes to find a burning bedroom. Shadows of dancers surrounding her tense and twisted movements really added a darkness to the scene and gave a modern edge to Jane's otherwise flowing and graceful choreography.

Dreda Blow as Jane Eyre and Javier Torres as Edward Rochester

The beautiful performance is definitely worth a watch for any Brontë fan, even one who has never been to the ballet before, as the themes of inner turmoil, vulnerability and romance translate well to a form without language... Though it's best to brush up on the plot beforehand, as some of the nuance may be lost if you're not familiar with the storyline.

The adaptation was wonderfully close to the text, and seeing a novel I've loved for so long be brought to life with such incredible skill was a real experience.

Northern Ballet, along with a fantastic creative team, brings an expressive and romantic feel to the contemporary adaptation that should not be missed.

Jane Eyre by Northern Ballet runs at Richmond Theatre until Wednesday June 1. Tickets cost from £12.40 and are available online .

Richmond Theatre, Little Green, Richmond , TW9 1QJ - 0844 871 7651