A couple of Wuthering Heights

Two very different theatrical approaches to Wuthering Heights open today, November 7:

1. In Birmingham, Kazuko Hohki's Wuthering Heights (that we have presented before) has two performances. Although, the official Birmingham Repertory Theatre webpage doesn't say anything, on the Kazuko Hohki's personal web we can see that these are still scratch performances.

Kazuko Hohki presents
Wuthering Heights
Co-commissioned by Birmingham Repertory Theatre and BAC

A tale of love, loss, delusion & farming

Created & Performed by Kazuko Hohki & Colin Carmichael
With Music by Clive Bell
Stemming from a childhood fascination with an epic classic, Kazuko Hohki invites you to join her and Colin Carmichael of BRIAN ('the boyband of British Theatre') as they take a journey across the dark North Yorkshire moors to Wuthering Heights.

Inspired by Emily Bronte's seminal novel, Kazuko & Colin revisit this classic tale to present their very own take on love, delusion, passion, death and farming as seen through the eyes of a Japanese tourist and some very curious sheep.

Co-commissioned by Birmingham Repertory Theatre and BAC
The Door - Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EP

Developed at Farnham Maltings & Nuffield Theatre, Lancaster
Tue 7th Nov 2006 - Wed 8th Nov 2006
@ 7:45 pm

2. The second is a new chance to see the City Theatre Dublin's Wuthering Heights touring around Ireland. This time in Blanchardstown, Dublin.

Wuthering Heights
City Theatre Dublin

A company of 7 actors collaborate in this new production, adapted and directed for City Theatre Dublin by Michael McCaffery with original music by Michael Scott. (more info)

Draíocht-The Blanchardstown Center-Main Auditorium Tues 7 – Sat 11 Nov, 8pm

Categories: Theatre, Wuthering Heights

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Kazuko Hohki's Wuthering Heights

It seems that the Love & Madness version of Wuthering Heights is not the only WH that has been on stage this winter in the United Kingdom. Another one has been premiered at the BAC Festival (Lavender Hill, London) last October. As a matter of fact, the play is more a revisitation than a version:

Wuthering Heights
BAC Associate Artist Kazuko Hohki teams up with Colin Carmichael and Siggi Eyberg of Brian - "the boyband of British theatre" - to revisit Emily Bronte's classic tale of passion on the Yorkshire Moors, as seen through the eyes of a Japanese tourist, and some very curious sheep.

A BAC Scratch commission Kazukho Hohki’s work is produced by Your Imagination.

It seems that Kazuko Hohki made properly her research according to this information:

Musician, animator, director, performer and storyteller Kazuko Hohki, who delighted audiences in May 2004 with her show My Husband is a Spaceman, is working with The Nuffield Theatre, for a year as their ‘Time and Space’ artist. (...)
Kazuko is currently working in Haworth, West Yorkshire, exploring the fascination that her compatriots have with Emily Brontë’s classic novel Wuthering Heights. Hawarth has become something of a pilgrimage place for Japanese tourists eager to soak up the atmosphere and Kazuko has been interviewing visitors in her own unique style to strip bare this curious obsession with the quintessentially British romance. The results of her investigations will form the background to her next performance piece to be premiered in 2006.

Co-author Colin Carmichael also wants to give his opinion:
“It’s about a Japanese woman in love with a book,” says Colin. “She comes to England to find her Heathcliff, only to find a fake environment instead - the experience of every tourist in London.”

Regrettably we don't have pictures or reviews of the show for the moment.

Categories: Theatre, Wuthering_Heights, Sequels, Emily_Brontë

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Kazuko's Wuthering Heights in London

Another alert for today comes from London. Kazuko Hohki's Wuthering Heights (check these old posts for more information on this project) will be performed at the Toynbee Studios:

KAZUKO'S WUTHERING HEIGHTS
2007

Stemming from a childhood fascination with an epic classic, Kazuko Hohki invites you to join her and Colin Carmichael as they take a journey across the dark North Yorkshire moors to Wuthering Heights.

Inspired by Emily Bronte’s seminal novel, Kazuko & Colin revisit this classic tale to present their very own take on love, delusion, passion, death and farming as seen through the eyes of a Japanese tourist and some very curious sheep.

Co-commissioned by BAC, Birmingham Repertory Theatre & Farnham Maltings. Created & Performed by Kazuko Hohki & Colin Carmichael, with music by Clive Bell.

Events
29 Jun 2007 - 30 Jun 2007
7:30 pm
Kazuko Hohki & Bobby Baker
Wuthering Heights & Ballistic Buns

Toynbee Studios
28 Commercial Street, London

Categories: Theatre, Wuthering Heights

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Kazuko Hohki's Wuthering Heights at SHUNT

A new chance to see Kazuko Hohki's Wuthering Heights. Today, February 27 at the SHUNT Lounge (London):

Kazuko Hohki's Wuthering Heights
Fri 27 8pm

Stemming from a childhood fascination with an epic classic, Kazuko Hohki invites you to join her and Colin Carmichael of BRIAN (‘the boy band of British Theatre’) as they take a journey across the dark North Yorkshire moors to Wuthering Heights.

Inspired by Emily Bronte’s seminal novel, Kazuko & Colin revisit this classic tale to present their very own take on love, delusion, passion, death and 70’s disco as seen through the eyes of a Japanese tourist and some very curious sheep.

EDIT: Apparently this event has been filmed for Japanese TV.

Categories: Theatre, Wuthering Heights

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Kazuko Hohki's Rural Tour

Kazuko Hohki & Colin Carmichael's Wuthering Heights (more information on these previous posts) is touring the UK these days:

Wuthering Heights UK Rural Tour

A tale of love, loss, delusion & farming

Created & Performed by Kazuko Hohki & Colin Carmichael
With Music by Clive Bell

Stemming from a childhood fascination with an epic classic, Kazuko Hohki invites you to join her and Colin Carmichael of BRIAN “the boyband of British Theatre”, as they take a journey across the dark North Yorkshire moors to Wuthering Heights.

Inspired by Emily Bronte’s seminal novel, Kazuko & Colin revisit this classic tale to present their very own take on love, delusion, passion, death and farming as seen through the eyes of a Japanese tourist and some very curious sheep.

Wuthering Heights will be touring rural spaces in the South East in Autumn 07

Sept 2007

21st, Fri, Alford Village Hall, Cranleigh, Surrey,
25th, Tues, Farnham Malting, Surrey
28th, Fri, Horton Kirby Village Hall, Kent
29th, Sat, Frittendon Memorial Hall, Kent

Oct 2007,

5th, Fri, Uckfield Community Centre, Uckfield
6th, Hale Village Hall, Upper Hale, Farnham, Surrey

Categories: Theatre, Wuthering Heights

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A Japanese tourist and some very curious sheep

Three new chances, starting today December 8, to see the scratch performances of Kazuko Hohki's Wuthering Heights in London (more information on previous posts and links therein):

WUTHERING HEIGHTS
Kazuko Hohki with Colin Carmichael of BRIAN
8 December 2006 - 10 December 2006
20:00 5.30pm Sunday

BAC (Battersea Arts Center)
Lavender Hill
London SW115TN

BAC Associate Artist Kazuko Hohki teams up with Colin Carmichael of Brian – (‘the boyband of British theatre’) - to revisit Emily Bronte's classic tale of passion on the Yorkshire Moors, as seen through the eyes of a Japanese tourist, and some very curious sheep.

‘Kazuko Hohki is a deliciously droll storyteller.’ The Herald on My Husband is a Spaceman.

Categories: Theatre, Wuthering Heights

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More on Hohki's Wuthering Heighs

Today, March 13, there's a reading of the Kazuko Hohki's version of Wuthering Heights scheduled that we presented some months ago. As a matter of fact this time what will be seen at the Battersey Arts Center (BAC) in Lavender Hill, London is a reading of the play. The schedule is as follows:

Wuthering Heights
reading, April, 13th, 2006
Scratch, December 2006
Full show, Spring 2007

We remind you that Kozuko Hohki's play is not exactly a version but a revisitation:

Wuthering Heights BAC Associate Artist Kazuko Hohki teams up with Colin Carmichael and Siggi Eyberg of Brian - "the boyband of British theatre" - to revisit Emily Bronte's classic tale of passion on the Yorkshire Moors, as seen through the eyes of a Japanese tourist, and some very curious sheep.

Categories: Theatre, Wuthering_Heights

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Brontë Parsonage Wedding

BrontëBlog is still smiling, members of the team know why, after reading this press release from the Brontë Society (also posted on the Brontë Parsonage Blog):

Staff at the Parsonage have seen a rush of engagements recently with earnest chaps going down on one knee at the door to the world famous home of the Brontë family in Haworth to ask for their girl's hand in marriage. (...)

One such couple from Oxfordshire chose the Parsonage as the perfect setting for this important romantic gesture. Ben Heather proposed to his girlfriend of three years on the Parsonage steps and thankfully got a positive response!

Holly Simpson said yes on the couple’s third anniversary. Ben chose the Brontë home because of Holly’s interest in their novels through her studies in English, Media and Creative writing at the University of High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. One of her favourites is Wuthering Heights.

Ben said, “Holly knew nothing at all about it so was very surprised. She started to cry the minute I pulled out the ring. We would like to thank everyone at the Parsonage for their hospitality and kindness, and for the wonderful gift we received on the day.

"I'm very sure we will be back in the future, as the museum will hold a special place in our hearts and memories. No date has been set for the big day as we both still live with our parents and are desperately saving up for a house first, then we will save up and sort out the big day, hopefully in a couple of years.” (Diane Kay)

The Kentucky Herald-Leader's book reviewer Cheryl Truman chooses her favourite books:

6. Anything by any Brontë sister
Wuthering Heights by Emily, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne. Either you're a sensible Jane Austenite or you're one of those wild-women Brontë-busters. Count me in with the latter.

Well, we rather think you can be both, but we respect all opinions.

The other news today can be classified in two categories, announcements and reviews.

A couple of announcements. The First Post talks about the upcoming London Artsadmin Summer Season (A month-long season of performance, installation and film curated by Artsadmin at the newly refurbished Toynbee Studios). Kazuko Hohki's Wuthering Heights (check these previous posts) will be performed:

Kazuko Hohki, a Japanese performer living in London, finds the ways of the British a source of bemusement and for several years has been making eccentric and hilarious shows about her collision with our culture. Her latest outing, Kazuko's Wuthering Heights, billed as 'a tale of love, loss, delusion and farming', features a Japanese tourist and a number of sheep coming to terms with the Tokyo-Haworth differential. (David Gale)

Jane Eyre figures as one of the plays to be performed (May 2008) in the new season of the LifeHouse Theater in Redlands, California as can be read here.

And some Brontë-related reviews, as usual. The Jewish News Weekly reviews Tamar Yellin's Kafta in Brontëland (more information on previous posts):

The titular story, Kafka in Brontëland,explores Jewish identity in Brontë’s brooding landscape of the English moors via a patchwork of images, musings and snippets of action and dialogue. (Adina Kletter)

Catching the Classics reviews I Walked With A Zombie (1943) with more than obvious Jane Eyre connections (check previous posts); Classical Book Club reviews Wuthering Heights (the review somehow reminds one of those contemporary reviews that praised the energy of the writing but were disturbed by the behaviour of the characters) and, finally, Blog-A-Book reviews, in German, Jane Eyre

Categories: Books, Brontë Parsonage Museum, Jane Eyre, Movies-DVD-TV, Theatre, Wuthering Heights

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