Venue: Roslyn Packer Theatre (Sydney NSW), Jan 31 – Feb 15, 2025
Adaptor: Emma Rice (from the novel by Emily Brontë)
Composer: Ian Ross
Director: Emma Rice
Cast: Sam Archer, Nandi Bhebhe, Matthew Churcher, Rebecca Collingwood, Frederick Double, Stephanie Elstob, Thomas Fox, Stephanie Hockley, TJ Holmes, John Leader, Robyn Sinclair
Images by Steve Tanner

Theatre review
It is the story of star-crossed lovers Heathcliff and Catherine, from the pen of Emily Brontë but adapted for a contemporary stage. The circumstances around the dark romance of Wuthering Heights may seem a relic of the past, but the emotions that it represents prove enduring.

Transformed into a musical, we are swept away by compositions from Ian Ross that are alternately ethereal and intense, creating a majestic soundscape that takes us far away to 18th-century northern England. Its characters make choices that are unlikely to make sense today, but the music connects with something primal, for an instinctive understanding of how they might have felt.

This reinvigorated version by Emma Rice is as imaginative as it is exuberant, with pop influences that help the old novel resonate anew. Choreography by Etta Murfitt introduces an unexpected kineticism, adding a sense of palpable urgency. Production design by Vicky Mortimer may look somewhat home-spun and dwarfed by the lofty sleekness of the auditorium, but quirky elements are nonetheless delightful.

It is an endearing cast that takes the charge, with John Leader’s idiosyncratic interpretation of a marvellously suave Heathcliff, earning our investment in his epic tale of ambition and regret. Stephanie Hockley’s passionate defiance as Catherine brings an undeniable spiritedness to the production. Also notable are Nandi Bhebne as Leader of the Moors, and Robyn Sinclair as Young Cathy, both highly compelling with their splendid vocals and considered depictions.

There are so many tragic deaths in Wuthering Heights, most of which are related to the notion of a broken heart. Heathcliff was indeed devastated by the loss of his love, and even though it is a truism that life without love is worth little, it is easy to mistakenly believe the same about romance. Only love is essential, and fortunately much more attainable than its illusory and evanescent echo.

www.wutheringheightsaustralia.com

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