Northern Ballet - Wuthering Heights
Milton Keynes Theatre 28th April 2015

The highly acclaimed Northern Ballet performed Wuthering Heights at Milton Keynes Theatre as part of a tour of this classic Emily Bronte novel.

Working with composer Claude-Michael Schonberg who has Les Miserables and Miss Saigon to his credits, artistic director David Nixon OBE conjures up the timeless setting and characters of this classic novel with outstanding choreography.

Bronte's powerful story of passion and obsession is famous for its leading characters - Cathy and Heathcliff, all set against the torrid, bleak backdrop of the Yorkshire Moors.  

After meeting as children, the pair are inseparable, wondering the Moors together and spending many happy hours together.

However, over time their childish affection deepens into an all consuming, overwhelming and devastating love.

The simple, minimalistic sets, with the stark charcoal landscapes and windswept tree combine seductively with atmospheric lighting to capture the untamed beauty of the Yorkshire Moors and an absolutely fantastic backdrop for the fated lovers.

There are some stunning performances by young Cathy (Rachael Gillespie) and Young Heathcliff (Jeremy Curnier) - they captured the powerful emotions of the young lovers to perfection.  They were breathtaking to watch, almost moving as one - undivided souls.  It was beautiful.

Martha Leebolt (Cathy) and Tobias Batley (Heathcliff) were magical together.  Batley proved an exceptionally powerful actor/dancer and Leebolt gave a passionate, graceful performance.  The two were simply a visual spectacle to behold.

The emotion that oozed from the stage was incredible, it draws you in and you are lost in it.  I can't think of a more moving production.

This is a timeless classic that has been reborn for a modern audience and it will captivate you from start to finish.

Lily B X