Lots of news

We have just been reading interesting news item after interesting news item over on the Brontë Parsonage Blog.

Here's a digest:

First of all, there's some info on this year's edition of the traditional May Walk. It will take place on Sunday May 14. As usual it's organised by Ian and Catherine Emberson and Stephen and Angela Barber. Click here for more info on it (route and how to join in)

Secondly, the Angrians - junior Brontë Society Members - will be delighted to know they have a new magazine called Genius! Click here to read what it will be about. Lucky children!

Thirdly, thrilling news! The Department of Archaeological Sciences at Bradford University might be given a "tiny amount of Brontë hair and a handkerchief in order to perform a DNA analysis". This has already been performed on other historical celebrities. The only drawback is that it means destroying the hair sample, but the information gained might possibly more than compensate! And there's even a TV company who seems to be interested in following the process. Click here to read the whole news.

But that TV company is not alone. The Brontës seem to be on their way to becoming international TV stars. Not only is the BBC getting ready their new Jane Eyre production, but also the BBC2 is interested in the little books at the Brontë Parsonage Museum for their new documentary series 'The People's Museum'. According to this North East Museums News e-Bulletin this is what the series will be like:

In a new 15 part series being planned for BBC2 in conjunction with Museums and Galleries month, viewers will be invited to vote on 'hidden treasures' from regional museums, galleries, churches and stately homes around the country, to be displayed in a virtual People's Museum. Whilst the programmes to be hosted by a main presenter from a central location such as a national museum, the individual regional museums will be shot with an almost live, fresh news-hound quality. The organisers are particularly interested in treasures currently not on public display. This highly interactive regional-focused project in partnership with Museums and Galleries Month which will re-ignite interest in local museums and galleries, and will give the public a chance to see and learn about treasures they never will have seen or even known existed.

There are also negotiations going on with a Chinese broadcaster and a Bristish company interested in filming on Charlotte Brontë and her connection with Hathersage (very relevant to Jane Eyre). Click here to see this news.

And last but not least, Anna Calder-Marshall who played Cathy for Timothy Dalton in the 1970 Wuthering Heights will be making an appearance at the traditional AGM weekend on June 2. She will be acting a play by Douglas Verrall called Charlotte, Emily and Anne, and will be directed by Valerie Doulton. Click here for further info on this.

Categories: Brontë_Society, Brontë_Parsonage_Museum, Movies-DVD-TV