Wuthering Heights (Stage Adaptation): Review

AD: Press tickets gifted for a review of Wuthering Heights

Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights is more than a Gothic love story. It’s a tale of obsession, revenge, and the destructive power of passion across generations. Brontë’s novel, set on the Yorkshire moors, has challenged and enthralled readers for nearly two centuries. But how well does this iconic story translate to the stage? April de Angelis’ adaptation of Wuthering Heights, directed by David Durant, brings the novel to life at The Courtyard in Hereford this week.

About Wuthering Heights

This production captures the wild, untamed spirit of Brontë’s writing. It also adds surprising moments of humour through the narrators, Mr Lockwood and Nelly. It is a Pro-Am performance, blending professional actors with community and youth theatre members.

This approach not only brings fresh energy to the production but also provides amateur cast members the chance to learn from experienced professionals. Set in the Bleak Yorkshire countryside and starting in a snowstorm, the story follows an orphan’s arrival at Wuthering Heights. It folllows the turbulent relationship he forms with Catherine, and the lasting consequences of love, betrayal and revenge.

The Cast of Wuthering Heights

At the heart of the cast are Hamish MacAulay as Heathcliff and Ishbel Cumming as Catherine. Hamish, a graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, brings intensity to Heathcliff’s brooding character, while Ishbel, trained at the Guildford School of Acting, delivers a layered portrayal of Catherine.

They are joined by Toby Potter as Hareton, Fran Lewis as Young Cathy, Beth Fawkes as Young Catherine, Alex Eversham as Branderham, Cameron Penny as Young Hindley, and Ted Slough as Young Heathcliff.

Community cast members include Warren Alexander as Mr Lockwood, Laura Gwynne as Nelly, Nathan Cole as Edgar, and Michael Diggle as Adult Hindley, among others. Director David Durant describes this mix of professional, youth, and community performers as bringing “bags of energy” to the stage.

What We Thought of the Show

This adaptation of Wuthering Heights is both gripping and atmospheric. It balances the darker elements of obsession, grief and revenge with humour that helps to lighten the mood and ensure the audience are gripped by the story. The narrators were two of our favourite characters. We loved the way they moved in and out of a really quite distressing story. This provided an element of relief from its intensity.

Performances by MacAulay and Cumming create a convincing and fraught connection that had the whole auditorium on the edge of their seats. A really quite basic set with few set changes made sure that the focus remained on the characters and their turbulent relationships throughout.

The result is a production that honours Brontë’s work while making it fresh and engaging for modern audiences. It’s hard to believe that the cast included amateurs as well as seasoned professionals. I’ve also read that it was put together in just four weeks! This must have taken a huge amount of work and dedication. The whole cast and crew must be extremely proud of this incredible achievement.

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