In 1845, Branwell Bronte returns home in disgrace, plagued by his addictions. As he descends into alcoholism and insanity, bringing chaos to the household, his sisters write - Polly Teale's extraordinary play evokes the real and imagined worlds of the Brontes, as their fictional characters come to haunt their creators. Bronte was originally produced by Shared Experience in 2005. It was revived by the company in 2010, in a co-production with the Watermill Theatre, Newbury, directed by Nancy Meckler.

A bold reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen's tale of love, loss and desire, transported to a contemporary setting. Beneath the ocean's waves there is no death or pain or separation. Above, the modern world is beset with war, poverty and desire. On her sixteenth birthday, a mermaid rises up to the surface, leaving her childhood behind for ever when she falls in love with a mortal prince. She knows that she can no longer live at the bottom of the ocean - but must she destroy herself in order to be loved? Polly Teale's Mermaid was first performed by Shared Experience and Nottingham Playhouse on a UK tour in 2015.

A bold and theatrically inventive adaptation of the literary classic that puts the interior life of the novel on stage. As a child, the orphaned Jane Eyre is taught by a succession of severe guardians to stifle her natural exuberance. A part of herself is locked away, out of view of polite society... until she arrives at Rochester's house as a governess to his young child. Soon Rochester's passionate nature reawakens Jane's hidden self, but darker secrets are stirring in the attic... Polly Teale's adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre was first performed by Shared Experience Theatre Company in 1997.

The true-life drama of the extraordinary bond between two identical twin girls and their struggle to find a voice. Refusing to speak to adults, identical twins June and Jennifer Gibbons communicate in their own private language, their only relationship being their intense and turbulent bond with each other. Inspired by Marjorie Wallace's bestselling book The Silent Twins, Polly Teale and Linda Brogan's powerful play is an astonishing and moving portrayal of the secret world of a very special but ultimately destructive alliance between two sisters. Speechless was first performed by Shared Experience and Sherman Theatre Cymru at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, in 2010. It was the winner of an Edinburgh Fringe First Award.

The hit show from Shared Experience Theatre Company based on the tortured and passionate life of Jean Rhys and her most famous book, Wide Sargasso Sea, the prequel to Jane Eyre. In Wide Sargasso Sea - 'one of the works of genius of the 20th century' The Times - Jean Rhys first gave voice to Bertha Mason, Mr Rochester's first wife in Jane Eyre. Polly Teale's play is a dramatisation of Rhys' life, placing Bertha on stage throughout as Jean's alter ego, and giving full vent to her obsession with the 'mad woman in the attic'. After Mrs Rochester was first staged at the Duke of York's Theatre in the West End in July 2003 by Shared Experience Theatre Company.