In the 200th year since Charlotte Brontë’s birth, the Northern Ballet take their production of Jane Eyre on a world tour and this weekend they come to Aylesbury Waterside Theatre.

Orphaned at a young age and treated terribly by her aunt, Jane Eyre is a plain but intelligent child who grows up knowing little kindness. Sent away to a charitable school, Jane later accepts a position as a Governess at Thornfield, a gentleman’s manor, whose master is the dark and impassioned Mr Rochester.

In spite of their social differences an unlikely bond grows between the pair but as their romance develops, it becomes clear that Mr Rochester has a hidden past that threatens to ruin them both.

Cathy Marston, the critically acclaimed choreographer who put the show together, explains why she chose Jane Eyre: “As the daughter of two English teachers, Jane Eyre was one of the classics of English literature I was introduced to as a child.

“There are so many different works that I could make inspired by this novel – rich as it is with characters, motifs and themes. Necessarily restricting my focus to create this 90 minute ballet however, I’ve decided to hone in on Jane’s story, which combines an utterly compelling romantic narrative with the journey of a young, sparky girl discovering emotional intelligence as she attempts to balance moral integrity with love, passion and compassion.”

It isn’t just the intricacies of the timeless tale which attracted Cathy, but the character herself: “I’m often drawn to strong female leads. Jane is considered an early feminist character.

“Throughout her life she feels that men get in her way; they block her path, they divert her, they die on her, they let her down and they lie to her. The actions of the men in her life are one of the main reasons she is so distrustful and fights so hard to climb out of the world she has been born into.

She adds: “She feels like she is fighting the outside world but she is also fighting herself. As I discover her anew through our rehearsals I’m struck by how surprising she is. Her reactions are seldom obvious and we must always ask what would Jane do here?”

For those already familiar with the story you will know that Mr Rochester is an older male, however ballet dancers are notoriously young, I wondered how Cathy overcome this through choreography.

“It is an interesting challenge as it makes you look at who Rochester is inside rather than how he looks on the outside. The enigma that is Mr Rochester is also a wonderful character to draw through dance; not your typical prince charming and yet the archetype of a romantic hero.

“Another challenge was to incorporate more of the men into the ballet as the book typically only gives us four named key male roles. I didn’t want the production to be nearly all women, so I have introduced ‘D-Men’. They inhabit Jane’s inner world and represent her inner demons as well as ‘death’ that is often on her heel.”

Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UG, Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4. Details: 0844 871 7615