Wuthering Heights in Bochum

A new adaptation of Wuthering Heights has been premiered this week in Bochum, Germany:

Sturmhöheç

after Emily Brontë

German by Wolfgang Schlüter

Stage adaptation by Claudia Bossard

Director:  Claudia Bossard

With:  Konstantin Bühler ,  Danai Chatzipetrou ,  Dominik Dos-Reis ,  Marius Huth ,  Victor IJdens ,  Nina Steils ,  Alexander Wertmann ,  Jing Xiang

March 7, 12, 21; April 6, 16.

Schaulpielhaus Bochum, Germany

Love or madness? Revenge and ghosts in the stormy moors of England.

Kate Bush is to blame. Ever since her song  Wuthering Heights,  we have all been dreaming of the unredeemed lovers Catherine and Heathcliff from Emily Brontë's outstanding novel. But wait: is it really love? 

The novel that made the author immortal is a ghost story and a melodrama, a tough social realism and a psychological masterpiece. It tells how Catherine grows up with her brother Hindley and the foundling Heathcliff in a hard-hearted environment. She and Heathcliff become best friends, it could be a forever relationship, but Catherine decides to go with Edgar Linton, the rich kid from the neighboring farm. Heathcliff runs away humiliated and returns three years later completely changed, with an unrelenting mission. Even Catherine's early death does not dissuade him. But Catherine also has a score to settle forever...

The novel is riddled with multiple narratives of violence, violence against children, against women, against subordinates and against those under one's protection. Traumas are passed on, wounds do not heal, victims become perpetrators and vice versa. A wild, branching story in the rough wind of the English moors, full of ghostly figures, emotional and economic legacies, extreme feelings, and at the heart of it all the big question: What does it mean to be human?

While the production is widely praised for its intense performances and striking staging, opinions diverge on whether it successfully captures the essence of Emily Brontë’s novel.

One of the production’s most lauded aspects is the ensemble’s performance. As noted in Die Deutsche Bühne, the eight actors deliver a clear narrative with moments of heightened psy “grandiose” portrayal of the novel’s emotionally charged characters, balancing a clear narrative with moments of heightened psychological intensity. This is echoed Nacht Kritik , which acknowledges the skill of individual actors such as Nina Steils (Catherine) and Marius Huth (Edgar Linton). However, it questions whether Heathcliff, played by Victor IJdens, carries the necessary dramatic weight. IJdens' portrayal is particularly divisive: while Die Deutshce Bühne appreciates the nuanced depiction of Heathcliff’s transformation from an outsider seeking love to an embittered figure consumed by revenge, Nacht Kritik argues that his performance lacks the emotional intensity needed to make the character compelling.

The staging also draws attention, with critics noting the visually striking use of space and multimedia elements. Nacht Kritik emphasizes the large stage, the symbolic presence of a silver container as Wuthering Heights, and the interplay of video and sound design, which creates a haunting, almost surreal atmosphere. The integration of Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights as an opening dance sequence receives praise across the board, with Die Deutsche Bühne particularly commending the energy of this introduction. However, the same review criticizes the production for lacking a clear thematic focus, suggesting that Bossard presents too many conflicting interpretations of Heathcliff’s moral ambiguity rather than committing to a singular vision.

Further informatioj on Waz,