A Brontë year

If a few days ago we took a look at what Brontë-related books are scheduled for 2009, it's now time to direct our glances to other Brontë-related events that might or might not take place in the course of this new year. Some are more certain than others as you will see:

Screen in the US will of course soon be broadcasting the brand new ITV Wuthering Heights (on PBS on January 18 and 25), which means we are off to a good start. 2009 will surely see the release of this new version of Wuthering Heights on DVD.

But not everything is so sure in that area: there supposedly is another Wuthering Heights on the works (intended for the big screen) (an Ecosse Films production, directed by Peter Webber with Abbie Cornish and Michael Fassbender in the leading roles) and Angela Workman hast just got back the reins of the Brontë biopic.

But not all productions as so documented: Ellen Page was mentioned as cast for a new big-screen Jane Eyre in 2008 and not much has been said about that project after that, so perhaps 2009 will bring us news about it. Shirley, too, was supposedly in the making a while ago. Also The Brontë Project (based on the novel by Jennifer Vandever) and a Brontë sitcom were mentioned in the past.

As far as the stage is concerned, Gordon and Caird announced they are considering a revamping of their Jane Eyre: The Musical with reduced orchestrations to take place in the coming months in New York. That might be quite a treat indeed. But that musical in its let's say classical version will go up on stage in Seattle, São Paulo, the Netherlands and a few other places around the globe.

One of the most expected events of the year - if we are to judge at least by the amount of attention it has received in the press - is Tamasha's Bollywood-like take on Wuthering Heights. The show goes live in March and will at least be touring the UK until the end of June.

In the Netherlands, a new original play might see the light too: De Brontë Sisters by Matin van Veldhuizen. Hopefully, this unexpected creation will open in October. Another play of new creation is Arlene Hutton's Parhelia, although there are no dates or venues at this point - we only know it's finished. We wonder if we will be able to report news about it in the coming year.

And a few of the things we wondered in a similar post last year remain still unanswered: Will the Canadian playwright Vern Thiessen give birth to his own take on Wuthering Heights (Somewhere at Vimy)? And Sean Cannon's theatre play on the Brontë Irish origins?

Also on stage, but in connection to dance, we may expect to see a dance piece in Bern (Switzerland): Sturmhöhe by Cathy Marsden. In the dance area as well, some venues in Ireland and the UK will be hosts to a revival of David Nixon & Claude-Michel Schönberg's Wuthering Heights ballet by the Northern Ballet Theatre to celebrate their 40th anniversary in April and May.

Chaslin & Fisher's Wuthering Heights opera and Mark Ryan's musical are either finished or about to be finished soon, so we might expect some good news (and venues and dates) on those fronts too. And will there be a new musical by Norman and Simon named Heathcliff? Will we hear the Wuthering Heights music project, Cime Tempestose in its Italian version, by Fabio Zuffanti?

A couple of exhibition are certain at this point: the Brontë Parsonage Museum after its traditional closed period of January will reopen with a brand-new exhibition focusing on the Brontës' lives as well as on the new acquisitions.

Sunday 1 February 2009

History of the Bronte Family: Major refurbishment of the main exhibition space opens with new permanent exhibition focussing on the Brontes' lives. There is also a new special exhibition focussing on Charlotte Bronte, free on admission to the Museum.

Sunday 1 February 2009

Wuthering Heights Costumes: Special exhibition at the Parsonage featuring several of the costumes from the forthcoming ITV adaptation of Wuthering Heights to be screened in the New Year. Free on admission to the Museum.

But together with that and running from February 6 to March 31, Victor Buta will explore the Brontës' handwriting. And throughout the rest of the year, of course, a whole lot of events, talks, etc. will take place in Haworth and elsewhere organised by the Brontë Society.

Add to that a few surprises, lost of news, funny mentions, reviews, etc. and the new year ahead looks quite intriguing, doesn't it?

Categories: Messages from BB