Wuthering Heights in New Zealand

A new production of Jane Thornton's recent adaptation of Wuthering Heights (which was premiered in 2007 in York) opens Today in Wellington, New Zealand :

The Stagecraft Theatre Society presents
Wuthering Heights
Written by Emily Brontë; adapted for the stage by Jane Thornton

Performance dates:
Wednesday 16 September to Saturday 19 September 2009 at 8 pm, Sunday 20 September at 3 pm, Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 September at 6.30 pm, Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 September at 8 pm.

Summary:
Set against a single backdrop, six actors play out the story of Catherine and Heathcliff's unfulfilled love for each other, of Edgar and Isabella whose kindness leads to betrayal, and of the children Cathy and Hareton - caught up in the aftermath of misunderstanding and loss.
Inconsolable with grief and rage, Heathcliff's need for revenge drives him to acts of inexplicable cruelty against those around him. But it becomes apparent that, rather than being simply vindictive, Heathcliff is a man tormented by ghosts. Eventually he relinquishes his vendetta and finally Hareton and Cathy find together what Heathcliff and Catherine could not.
'Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.'
While the majority of the film versions of Wuthering Heights have focused only on the first half of Bronte's work this two-hour adaptation (first published in 2005) tells the entire story. Jane Thornton's ability to convey all the complexities of plot and emotion with respect for the original text, as well as recognising the needs of a modern audience, is one of the major reasons that director Iona Anderson was drawn to this particular version.
The multiple roles played by the six actors demands a tight ensemble approach, while a simple set offers the crew the chance to concentrate on sound, lighting and costume to create for the audience the harshness of Wuthering Heights, the comfort of Thrushcross Grange and the wildness of the moors where the play is centred.

Cast:
Cathy/Catherine - Rebecca Parker
Hindley/Hareton - Alan Carabott
Earnshaw/Joseph/Edgar/Linton - Reuben Brickell
Nelly Dean - Shannon Tubman
Frances/Isabella - Jim Stanton
Heathcliff - Ben Priest

Crew:
Iona Anderson (director), Tabitha Arthur (intern director), Sam Perry (production manager), Mel Camp (stage manager), Alan Burden (sound designer), Jackie Brasfield (sound operator), Matthew Leather (lighting designer), Devon Heaphy (lighting operator), Sue Saville (prompt), Sheena Hudson (props), Tanya Piejus (photographer), Susannah Donovan (front of house manager)

Several promotional pictures can be seen here.

Categories: Theatre, Wuthering Heights