Set in lush 19th-century Jamaica, Wide Sargasso Sea tells the story of the relationship between a passionate Creole heiress, Antoinette (Rebecca Hall), and a brooding Englishman, Edward Rochester (Rafe Spall).
Adapted from Jean Rhys' award-winning novel, Wide Sargasso Sea is a prequel to Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre and paints a rather different story of Mr Rochester's first wife.
Born to a Creole mother, Rhys felt Bronte had misrepresented Creole women in her work. She wanted to show an alternative to the story of Bertha Mason, Mr Rochester's first spouse, and dispel the 'mad wife' image created by Brontë.
Written by Stephen Greenhorn (Derailed, BBC TV) and directed by Brendan Maher (Kidnapped), this is a period drama with a very contemporary feel, conjuring up all of the passion, paranoia and racial tensions of the original novel. Previous productions by the makers, Kudos, include Life on Mars and Spooks.
Cast Edward Rochester Rafe Spall Antoinette Cosway Rebecca Hall Christophine Nina Sosanya Cora Victoria Hamilton Daniel Fraser Ayres Amelie Lorraine Burroughs Richard Mason Alex Robertson Grace Poole Karen Meagher
