"This guy stood there and said 'it's a play for women'," says an indignant Peter Amory, who plays Mr Rochester in this adaptation of the Charlotte Bronte novel.

"He should have been in a golf club with that attitude. It's a play written for men and women and has lessons for us all. Jane and Rochester aren't good-looking heroes and heroines - they're just average people. It's what's inside that's beautiful - that's the message."

The story of an unusually modern heroine - who had the audacity to answer back and overcame overwhelming odds to survive - was written in 1847 but has withstood the test of time.

Jane Eyre deals with an orphan who goes to work as a governess at a mysterious house and is as loved by today's readers as it ever was.

But being a literary classic does not necessarily lead to a good play, as Cliff Richard's Heathcliffe and, more recently, John Leslie's Wickham in Pride And Prejudice revealed.

"The problem with any adaptation is that it can't give the detail that the book does," says Peter. "But this is a good adaptation, which does the book justice, although the constraints of time mean it concentrates on the love story between Rochester and Jane and doesn't go into her childhood or background.

"Rochester is the hardest part I've played because he's got so many angles to him - it's like watching a puzzle unfold. He's so abrupt and outwardly rude. It's not until you realise why he's like this and how hard his life has been that you will feel sorry for him."

It's quite a change for Peter, best known for playing Chris Tate in Emmerdale for 14 years.

"I had to go, I was cracking up," he admits. "I started doing two episodes then before I knew it I was a production factory. I miss the people but I was so ready to leave. I didn't have anything to go to but I've done pretty well doing various stage and TV things.

"But it's all reality crap on TV at the moment and there's very little good drama so until that sorts itself out I'm happy concentrating on stage."

Starts 7.45pm, Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm, tickets cost £13-£22. Call 08700 606650.