Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

13th - 20th April 2002

Wuthering Heights programme cover

By Emily Brontë Adapted for the stage by John Davison

Cast:

CATHERINE EARNSHAW , Laura Brocklesby

HEATHCLIFF , Adrian Winfindale

JOSEPH , Richard Thompson

ELLEN DEAN (NELLIE) , Lisa Smith

EDGAR LINTON , Chris Stanton

ISABELLA LINTON , Susan Wyld

HINDLEY EARNSHAW , Mark Stokes

An O.R.P. Production directed by Alan Wood.

Crew:

SET DESIGN , Ray Lockey

LIGHTING DESIGN , Alan Wood

STAGE MANAGER , John Upton

SCENIC DESIGN , Ross Ashley

SET CONSTRUCTION , Peter Turton, Danny Hulse, David Palmer, Ray Lockey, Richard Shiner

GRANDFATHER CLOCK BY , Harold Jones

SCRIPT EDITOR , Alan Wood

SOUND , Gillian Lessiter

COSTUME , O.R.P., B'Ham Costume Hire

PROPS , Lisa Smith, Jayne & Gemma Mills

LIGHTING OPERATORS , Scott Vanes

PROMPT , Krystyna Kordas, Pam Green

Thanks to Sue Downing, Paul Spilsbury, Adrian Winfindale and Vic Childs for their assistance in preparing this production.

SCENES

The living roomat Wuthering Heights on the Yorkshire Moors.

ACT I: Early eveing Summer 1781.
ACT II: Three years later

Interval 15 minutes

ACT III: Night, a year later
ACT IV: Twenty years later

The Play:

Wuthering Heights was hewn in a wild workshop, with simple tools, out of homely materials

So wrote Charlotte Brontë in her preface to the second edition of her sister's book, two years after Emily's death in 1848. Unlike Charlotte's Jane Erye, Emily's Wuthering Heights had had a discouraging start.

First Published in 1847, and set amongst the wild Yorkshire Moors with the vindictive, passionate character of Heathcliff dominating the story, the book must have appeared rough and strange. But the power of the communication between Heathcliff and Catherine, set alongside the weaker characters - the civilized but passionless Linton, the cowardly Hindley, the ill-treated Isabella - and the wise, down-to-earth housekeeper who witnessed the tragic events, soon made wuthering Heights one of the most popular of all English novels.

Geneological tree

Reviews:

Rep reaches the Heights ( Paul Jenkins )

John Davison's stage adaptation of the Emily Brontë classic was always going to be difficult to do well, but members of Oldbury Rep certainly managed to pull it off.

This tale of love, lust, and treachery set in 16th century Yorkshire was not overlong, despite the film version being seen as an epic production.

The first half featured the trials and tribulations of Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff and their passionate love for each other despite the fact they are kept apart. Laura Brocklesby as Catherine played her first half role well before her character died at the end, but Adrian Winfindale as Heathcliff was outstanding throughout.

Comedy moments were provided by Richard Thompson as Joseph and Lisa smith as Nellie Dean, as well as some seemingly unintentionally funny lines.

Power and passion ( Halesowen news 11th April 2002)

Laura Brocklesby as Catherine Earnshaw with (centre) Adrian Winfindale as Heathcliff and Mark Stokes as Hindley Earnshaw.

Oldbury rep is performing Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights starting on Saturday and running for a week.

The timeless novel will be brought to life in John Davison's dramatic stage version of the famous novel. It tells the classic and immortal love story of the wild Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw consumed in their mutual passion, and set in Haworth Moor.

Performances at the Barlow Theatre, Spring Walk, Langley start at 7:30 pm. tickets are £6 with concessions available. For further information or to book call 0121 552 2761 (evenings).