CHARLOTTE'S LETTERS

by Jennifer O'Grady

2024 Hudson Valley Theatre Fest Selection / 1st Place Henley Rose Award / Risising Artists Playwriting Award / O'Neill Semifinalist/ Irish Rep's New Works Readings Series Selection / NEWvember Festival Dublin Selection / AWP's Writer2Writer Award / Top 25 Plays, Panndora's Box / BETC Generations Shortlist / BEST WOMEN'S STAGE MONOLOGUES 2022 Selection and other honors

(Full length) A fresh new take on the...

2024 Hudson Valley Theatre Fest Selection / 1st Place Henley Rose Award / Risising Artists Playwriting Award / O'Neill Semifinalist/ Irish Rep's New Works Readings Series Selection / NEWvember Festival Dublin Selection / AWP's Writer2Writer Award / Top 25 Plays, Panndora's Box / BETC Generations Shortlist / BEST WOMEN'S STAGE MONOLOGUES 2022 Selection and other honors

(Full length) A fresh new take on the Brontës, CHARLOTTE'S LETTERS intertwines novelist Charlotte Brontë's two years at a Belgian school--where she became close to her married male tutor and employer--with biographer Mrs. Gaskell's struggle to salvage Charlotte's posthumous reputation and feminist novels. In Victorian England the books of recently deceased author Charlotte Brontë are now widely banned for being too passionate. Gaskell intends to prove that Charlotte was innocent and her reclusive life, blameless--but when an alarming letter arrives from Brussels, Gaskell feels forced to investigate just how much of Charlotte's novels, including the bestselling but scandalous JANE EYRE, was based on her own life. As Gaskell delves deeper into Charlotte's past, we see Charlotte and her sister Emily at the Belgian school of Madame and Monsieur Heger and the unfolding of events that would transform Charlotte into the bestselling author of JANE EYRE. A theatrical play about love, friendship, and the making of art and identity.

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CHARLOTTE'S LETTERS

Recommended by

  • Aly Kantor: CHARLOTTE'S LETTERS

    Art imitates life, and in this compelling historical drama, we watch Charlotte Brontë's biographer grapple with that truth in her attempt to paint the author as palatable. This play feels incredibly intimate and atmospheric - clearly well-researched but never didactic. The characters are well-drawn and delightfully messy in all their relatable humanity. The language is poetic, and I felt drawn to the themes of emotion and shame, which permeate the piece until its tender, bittersweet conclusion!

    Art imitates life, and in this compelling historical drama, we watch Charlotte Brontë's biographer grapple with that truth in her attempt to paint the author as palatable. This play feels incredibly intimate and atmospheric - clearly well-researched but never didactic. The characters are well-drawn and delightfully messy in all their relatable humanity. The language is poetic, and I felt drawn to the themes of emotion and shame, which permeate the piece until its tender, bittersweet conclusion!

  • Justin Guidroz: CHARLOTTE'S LETTERS

    This play has been on my mind for almost five years now. Thought-provoking, expertly written, and thoroughly researched, O'Grady's exploration of genius in the midst of familial trappings is spellbinding. I will champion this play forever.

    This play has been on my mind for almost five years now. Thought-provoking, expertly written, and thoroughly researched, O'Grady's exploration of genius in the midst of familial trappings is spellbinding. I will champion this play forever.

  • Christopher Soucy: CHARLOTTE'S LETTERS

    Jennifer O’Grady delivers a beautifully rendered glimpse into the lives of extraordinary people. I love imagining the day to day lives of famous influential figures, but in this piece, Jennifer gives us a world so defined that imagination is not necessary. I felt like a ghost watching from the corners of the Brontë sisters’ lives. “All feelings are good” struck me as I realized how O’Grady conducts the full orchestra of my emotions in a perfect symphony.

    Jennifer O’Grady delivers a beautifully rendered glimpse into the lives of extraordinary people. I love imagining the day to day lives of famous influential figures, but in this piece, Jennifer gives us a world so defined that imagination is not necessary. I felt like a ghost watching from the corners of the Brontë sisters’ lives. “All feelings are good” struck me as I realized how O’Grady conducts the full orchestra of my emotions in a perfect symphony.

View all 19 recommendations

Character Information

6W/1M. Some doubling.
  • Charlotte Brontë
    Character Age
    Mid-20s.
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    British
  • Monsieur Heger
    Professor of literature.
    Character Age
    Early 30s.
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Belgian.
  • Mrs. Gaskell
    A novelist.
    Character Age
    46
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    British
  • Meta Gaskell (pronounced MEE-ta)
    Mrs. Gaskell's daughter.
    Character Age
    19
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    British
  • Emily Brontë
    Charlotte's sister
    Character Age
    Early-mid 20s.
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    British
  • Madame Heger
    School directress and Heger's wife.
    Character Age
    Late 30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Belgian.
  • Woman
    Plays Belgian Maid, Servant, Pupil's Voice, Louise.
    Character Age
    Late teens/early 20s

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Hudson Valley Theatre Festival, Year 2024
  • Type Reading, Organization Oak Grove Theater, Year 2024
  • Type Reading, Organization Attic Salt Theatre (Rising Artists Award), Year 2021
  • Type Reading, Organization Yellow Rose Productions (Henley Rose Award), Year 2018
  • Type Reading, Organization AboutFace Ireland/NEWvember Festival Dublin, Year 2017
  • Type Reading, Organization Irish Repertory Theatre, New Works Reading Series, Year 2016

Awards

  • Selection, Hudson Valley Theatre Festival
    New Deal Creative Arts Center
    2024
  • Finalist, Summer Reading Series
    Valley Players
    2024
  • Selection, Applause Books World Premiere Club
    Applause Theater & Cinema Books
  • Publication, The Best Women's Stage Monologues 2022
    Smith and Kraus
    Selection
    2022
  • Shortlist
    BETC Generations Award
    2015
  • Winner, Writer2Writer Award
    AWP
    Winner
    2018
  • Finalist, Talk Back Theatre
    Finalist
    2018
  • Winner, Rising Artist Playwriting Award
    Attic Salt Theater
    Winner
    2020
  • Finalist, Lance Hewett Reading Series
    Isle of Shoals Productions
    Finalist
    2020
  • Top 25 Plays, Panndora's Box New Works Festival
    Panndora Productions
    2019
  • Second Rounder
    Austin Film Festival Playwriting Award
    2018
  • 1st Place Winner, Henley Rose Playwrights Award for Women
    Winner
    2018
  • Selection, NEWvember New Plays Festival Dublin
    AboutFace Ireland
    Selection
    2017
  • Selection, New Works Reading Series
    Irish Repertory Theatre (NY)
    Selection
    2016