Grapefruit Lab's latest production, 'Jane Eyre', is a reimagining of the classic novel that explores themes of queerness, feminism, and social justice.
Grapefruit Lab, a hybrid Denver-based performance group, faced a question that many artists are asking themselves: What does it mean to create in this moment? “In the political climate, we had a moment of looking around and saying, ‘What are we doing as artists right now?’” recalls. “We were already working on the show, but had an existential moment about what we were doing with our art in Denver.
America has major human rights issues and our show is opening the weekend of the inauguration, so what do we have to say?' That questioning sharpened the group’s focus and clarified the stakes of their work. During rehearsals, we realized how important it was to tell this feminist, queer story about women claiming agency in the face of oppression while remaining joyful and fun,' Rada says. The production follows its title character, an orphaned young woman, as she navigates a life shaped by societal expectations. Her story begins in an oppressive childhood and moves through her journey as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she encounters the enigmatic and deeply flawed Mr. Rochester. As their relationship unfolds, Eyre grapples with her own agency, questioning her place within a world that limits her choices as a poor, single woman. What sets Brontë’s work apart, especially for its time, is Eyre’s unwavering defiance. She refuses to compromise her principles or autonomy, even when doing so risks her happiness or security. “Jane has a lot of close relationships with other women,” Suzanne explains. “We found queerness in the text. Jane is constantly talking about how beautiful the women in her life are and how much she wants to spend her life with them. Does that mean it was intended? Who knows, but does it really matter if it was intended?' Grapefruit Lab emphasizes these dynamics, drawing attention to moments where Jane expresses deep admiration and affection for the women in her life. The adaptation doesn’t erase Rochester’s role — his problematic, magnetic presence remains central to the story — but it broadens the lens to explore how Jane’s connections with women shape her identity. By doing so, the production reframes That's what makes it queer in the contemporary sense of the word; there's like a fluidity to her relations with all the people she interacts with, from Helen Burns to Diana to Rochester,' Rada says. 'We're fortunate to have this language of queerness and fluidity that wasn't available then. Are these relationships experiments? How are we defining them? It's left a little open-ended even in our piece. At the same time, the team reckons with the novel’s problematic elements, including its colonialist undertones and ableist depictions. “We don't lean into this very hard, but we recognize that the book has some issues in a way that doesn’t discard or cancel people but holds them accountable,' Rada notes. 'In a way, that message feels more relevant than it did before. Teacup Gorilla and Merkl’s live music play a critical role in this conversation. More than a soundtrack, the music serves as a narrative device, giving voice to Jane’s inner world and the Gothic mood of the production. 'We're always interested in not limiting ourselves to a single discipline, and music is certainly evocative and capable of emotional storytelling in a way that text cannot always provide,' Rada says. 'The band creates a lyrical, Gothic, romantic mood. Songs alternate between narration and first-person reflections from Jane’s perspective, amplifying the tension and depth of her journey. Teacup Gorilla’s full-length album,, drops on January 10, allowing audiences to connect with the story’s emotional landscape before they see the show. The album is a watershed moment for the band, serving as their “With a lot of our projects, we have this question: Is it theater or a concert?' Rada says. 'You get a full album of original music played live during the show, so it is equal parts concert and theater. This feels more like a true partnership with Teacup Gorilla than our other projects that were maybe more theater-led. In this production, the two elements are not separate distinct entities but come together as the fullest expression of our artishas grown in scope and ambition. The move to Buntport has provided the production with a larger stage on which to experiment with platforms, shadow work and projections that add to the Gothic atmosphere. The script has also been refined, with Rada and Suzanne revisiting Brontë’s novel to fill narrative gaps. 'It’s the first time I've gone back to the book since we did it in 2018,' Suzanne says. 'I reread it looking for material in the book that's going to fill this gap and what we realized is that there was often material in the book that was exactly what was missing. reprises her role as Jane and Rada returns as Charlotte Brontë, acting as both creator and commentator. Meanwhile, new cast memberWith a name-your-own-price ticket policy and a special engagement night on Saturday, January 25, featuring an opening act, Grapefruit Lab aims to create an inclusive atmosphere. 'We want it to be invitational and feel like nightlife,' Rada says. 'We're not trying to put this old historical thing you had to read in your English literature class in college into an old art form, but rather to make something that feels contemporary.' Even as Grapefruit Lab refines its adaptation, though, the production remains dedicated to its mission of fostering community and connection, especially in this contentious societal moment. “That brings me back around to the question of what to do given the current political climate,” Suzanne says. “It was sort of like, are we really going to cancel an event that brings queer people together in a celebration of storytelling and community? Why should we cancel that? That doesn’t make any sense.
ARTS CULTURE THEATRE QUEER FEMINISM JANE EYRE GRAPEFRUIT LAB
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