Wuthering Heights at Rippon Lea

Wuthering Heights at Rippon Lea

A thrilling new production of Wuthering Heights will be staged in the majestic estate of Rippon Lea House & Gardens from 10 February-6 March 2014, presented by the Australian Shakespeare Company.
 
Directed by Greg Carroll (Red Stitch, Melbourne Opera, The Stork Theatre), some of Melbourne's most accomplished actors will perform an edited adaptation of Emily Bronte's classic, written by renowned English playwright Vince Foxall. Tickets are on sale now via www.shakespeareaustralia.com.au and via Ticketmaster.

'This production will honour the atmospheric and moody aesthetics of the play's setting, working closely with the natural environment, using the trees, wind and historic architecture at Rippon Lea as integral parts of the narrative," says Carroll.

'Rather than simply telling a story we aim to take the audience on an emotional and physical journey."

Set against the historic Rippon Lea mansion and incorporating thrilling sound effects and visuals, Wuthering Heights will sweep audiences into a world of desperate romance, beauty and rebellion.

"Vince Foxall has created a sense of untamed, yet innocent, and very different children who have become impossible, monstrous young adults. They are sexually attracted and emotionally repulsed with super charged feelings in every inch of their lives."

Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte's only novel, was written in 1848 two years before her premature death at age 30 and was only published under her name several years later by her sister Charlotte. The novel was considered controversial when it was first published because its depiction of mental and physical cruelty was particularly bleak, challenging the strict Victorian ideals of the day, including religious hypocrisy, morality, social classes and gender inequality.

Today, Wuthering Heights is widely recognised as a classic of English literature, having been adapted into countless films, tele-movies and radio plays as well as stage plays and several operas since 1920. 

Cultures all over the world have been enamoured by the romance of Cathy and Heathcliff: film adaptations have been made in Japan, France, The Philippines and Mexico with other adaptations including a Bollywood musical and an Egyptian television serial. A new film written and directed by Academy Award winning director Andrea Arnold was made in 2011.

"Cathy and Heathcliff are probably two of the most romantic and felt for characters in literature. They are powered by a love that is intense and momentous. They are one with nature yet rail against it, expressing hate as violence and cruelty and love as sensual and all consuming," says director Greg Carroll.

For times and ticketing information visit www.shakespeareaustralia.com.au