One of our fantastic Richmond upon Thames College (RuTC) alumnus, Adele James, is currently starring in ‘Underdog: The Other Other Brontë’ at the National Theatre, on London’s South Bank.
The new play is an irreverent retelling of the life and legend of the Brontë sisters, and the story of the sibling power dynamics that shaped their uneven rise to fame. Adele plays the role of Emily Brontë in the production, alongside actors Gemma Whelan and Rhiannon Clements.
Adele studied BTEC Acting during her time at RuTC, leaving in 2013 to go on to study BA (Honours) Drama at the University of Bristol. In her professional career she has starred in the long-running BBC drama, Casualty, as regular character, ‘Tina Mollett’. Last year, Adele landed the lead role of ‘Cleopatra’ in the Netflix series, ‘Queen Cleopatra’, for which she won the ‘Outstanding Performance’ award at the National Film Awards 2023.
Adele commented on her latest role:
“Emily Brontë was such a force – a passionate and incredibly talented woman, and a mystery to many even to this day. My favourite thing about playing her in ‘Underdog’ is discovering who she was as a sister first and foremost, which is a role dear to my own heart, as the eldest of 4 children. Sisterhood and family are at the heart of this show, and I couldn’t be more grateful to be making my National Theatre debut in this vibrant reimagining of the Brontë sisters’ legend.”
The play has been praised by critics across the board, with the Independent naming it as, “A revelation for Brontë fans.”
RuTC lecturer, Jane Swift, who taught Adele whilst she studied at the college, will be taking a trip to the National Theatre to watch the performance later this month. This will be a hugely exciting trip for Jane, who is immensely proud and supportive of her former student.
Jane spoke of Adele’s successes:
“Adele is a brilliant reflection of the industry; she is generous in spirit and a true role model. She is so kind and helpful to our current students – coming back to the college on several occasions to give career talks and advice. We are so proud of her achievements and the trail she blazes for current and future learners at RuTC.”
In light of the success of her young acting career, Adele’s future plans are to focus more on her screenwriting skills and developing her repertoire within the arts industry.
Find out more about the production, ‘Underdog: The Other Other Brontë’ here.
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