Emma Rice’s new Wuthering Heights is an epic, ambitious production – review
Emma Rice and her company Wise Children have brought their stage adaptation of Emily Bronte’s classic novel to the National Theatre following a run at the Bristol Old Vic last year. Attempting to stage Wuthering Heights is a bold idea – it’s a novel which has little room for trimming.
Unsurprisingly, this sprawling stage adaptation weighs in at a hefty three hours, with a first act that feels like it overstays its welcome a tad.
To be honest the fact they’ve managed to stage the story at all is impressive, and given its complexity – a plot full of twists, a convoluted family tree and a narrative spanning many years – it’s surprisingly easy to follow.
As we’ve come to expect from Emma Rice – we saw her direct the adaptation of Noel Coward’s Brief Encounter and also Angela Carter’s Wise Children – it’s a playful and creative show.
