Review: Wuthering Heights, UK Tour at the Lowry, Salford

When you think of the most well known literary works of all time, what springs to mind? Pride & Prejudice? Jane Eyre? Something by Dickens? Or perhaps Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights? 

Now Emma Rice's company Wise Children have brought this story to life in a way you have unlikely seen before, first seen in the National Theatre Lyttleton, and now touring the UK. In fact, it was playing at the same time I saw Small Island just 2 months ago. 

The tragedy of Catherine and Heathcliff is a bleak one indeed, and if you haven't read the book before, or like me hadn't read it since you were 15 and your copy of it was designed to look like a Twilight novel... well, parts of it may confuse you a bit. 

But what Rice and her team does is make it almost electrifying to watch. There's something about it that is refusing to keep you away. 

For those who don't know, or want a refresh, Wuthering Heights centres around Heathcliff, from being discovered at Liverpool's docks as a child, to being brought to Wuthering Heights. As we watch, we see him not treat his trauma in the best way, and see him go from a wide and hopeful lad, to someone who is resentful, bitter, and let's that take control of not just their life, but also their loved ones. 

By dropping any kinds of curtains or wings, Rice brings her audience in closer - almost with the feeling of playing the smaller Quays Theatre, instead of the larger Lyric Theatre. And you're brought in event closer when The Moor narrates, along with her Greek Chorus. 

You see, one of the best things they did in this production is to make the Yorkshire Moors a living, breathing character. 

Nandi Bhebe is captivating to watch. As a literal representation of the Earth, that is in fact the best way to describe her: grounded. 

She acts as both a guide to the audience, and also to their characters, trying to the bring sense to them. She is the Earth, and they are the gale force winds on the Moor. In all honesty, adding her in to the story, was a stroke of genius! She became the soul of the show itself. 

Rice compares the story of Wuthering Heights to a Greek tragedy, with The Moor acting as Head Muse, and Catherine and Heathcliff as the Gods of Chaos and Revenge respectfully. That is spot on. 

Lucy McCormick as Catherine has a onstage-presence that's impossible to tear you away from. She's wild; she's chaotic; you don't know what way she's going to jump. Kate Bush is of course an influence that screamed out to me, but I also saw bits of Florence Welch and Alanis Morrisette in Catherine too, from both their mannerisms in the way she moves, to her vocal.

Heathcliff in this production was played by Liam Tamne (The Light in the Piazza); and to me this shows how much of a chameleon Tamne is. Anyone else you know off the top of your head can play a character like Heathcliff, and also have the likes of Frank N Further on their CV? Most people think of Heathcliff as the original literature anti-hero; best way to put it to be honest. He is certainly complex and Tamne brings that out beautifully. To go from someone who we sympathise with as he's taunted with "you're not welcome here", to becoming a mental and abusive figure is certainly not easy. 

The best way to describe Wuthering Heights, is chaotic and wild; like Catherine herself, and bleak like The Moor. 

From the bare set containing only a few chairs and revolving doors, to the dark lighting reminiscent of a cloudy Yorkshire day. Ian Ross' folk-rock inspired score feels like the perfect soundtrack to fit the tone and landscape; almost like a howl on the wind. 

If you think this could be for you, and are open to seeing this classic story in a new way, I would recommend it. It may have a bit too-long of a run-time at 3 hours, but despite that, there is something about Wuthering Heights that refuses to make you look away.  

Wuthering Heights plays at the Lowry, Salford Quays, until Saturday 7th May before continuing its tour across the country.