Tamasha's Musical WUTHERING HEIGHTS Tours 3/13-6/20

A Tamasha and Oldham Coliseum Theatre Production in association with the Lyric Hammersmith presents Wuthering Heights

Created by Tamasha, based on the novel by Emily Brontë and original concept and book by Deepak Verma Touring nationally from 13 March - 20 June
Lyric dates: 29 April - 23 May

Brontë goes to Bollywood in a brand new musical

The scorched desert landscape of Rajasthan is the setting for this musical interpretation of Emily Brontë's classic tale of passion, jealousy and revenge.

1870s Rajasthan with its rigid social hierarchy, inequality of wealth and Victorian influences, is an ideal location for this story of passion corrupted by prevailing social values. In place of the cold
moors, the wild scorched expanse of the desert provides a symbolic setting for the doomed love affair of Shakuntala and Krishan (Cathy and Heathcliff from the original novel).

As the lovers' tragic tale unfolds against an epic backdrop, heightened emotions are released through song in this vivid interpretation of a literary classic. The dark and brooding atmosphere
of the original 1847 novel are infused with elements of Indian cinema - from brooding black-and-white epics of the '50s to colourful contemporary blockbusters - and western musical theatre, to captivate theatregoers of all ages.

Music for the show, composed by Felix Cross and Sheema Mukherjee, reflects its setting with a score that combines original composition and authentic Rajasthani folkloric music. In traditional Bollywood style the eleven actors will sing in lip-synch to the pre-recorded score, which has been performed and recorded by a team of classically-trained musicians in Bangalore and vocalists in London.

Designer Sue Mayes travelled to Rajasthan in 2008 to research the set and costumes. Inspired by her trip, the mise-en-scène includes the scorched desert, a sumptuous palace and a social calendar highlight in the form of a camel racecourse.

Wuthering Heights is the latest show from Tamasha - creators of A Fine Balance, Fourteen Songs, Two Weddings and a Funeral (winner of the Barclays Theatre Award for Best Musical) and the Olivier nominated groundbreaking 1996 production East is East, the basis for the hit film of the same name cited as bringing Asian culture into the British mainstream.

Writer Deepak Verma has previously worked with Tamasha on his play Ghostdancing, based on Zola's Thérèse Raquin, which premiered at the Lyric Hammersmith in 2001. He is also known for his long-running role as Sanjay in EastEnders. Wuthering Heights is directed by Tamasha's co-Artistic Director Kristine Landon-Smith. Additional text for the show is written by Tamasha's co-Artistic Director Sudha Bhuchar.

A Tamasha and Oldham Coliseum Theatre Production in association with the Lyric Hammersmith.

Original concept and book: Deepak Verma /Additional text: Sudhar Bhuchar / Created by Tamasha /Directed by Kristine Landon-Smith / Music by Sheema Mukherjee & Felix Cross / Lyrics by Felix Cross / Performed by Adeel Akhtar, Shammi Aulakh, Pushpinder Chani, Rina Fatania, Anil Kumar, Divian Ladwa, Sheena Patel, Youkti Patel, Davina Perera, Gary Pillai, Amith Rahman / Playback singers: Irvine Iqbal, Najam Javed, Ambika Jois, Shaheen Khan, Kartik Raghunathan /
Choreography by Nikki Woollaston / Design by Sue Mayes /Lighting by Itai Erdal / Sound design by Mike Furness / Musical Supervisor: John Rigby/ Orchestrations and Arrangements by John Rigby & Chandru of Bollywood Strings / Lighting design by Itai Erdal / Casting by Jill Green CDG

Venue: Lyric Hammersmith
Dates & Times: 29 Apr - 23 May, 7.30pm
Matinees: 02 May: 2.30pm, 06 May: 1.30pm, 09 May: 2.30pm, 13 May:
1.30pm, 16 May: 2.30pm, 20 May: 1.30pm, 23 May: 2.30pm
Tickets: £10 - £27
Bookings 0871 22 117 22 / www.lyric.co.uk

Tour Dates
13- 28 Mar 2009
Coliseum Theatre, Oldham
www.coliseum.org.uk | 0161 624 2829

7 - 11 Apr 2009
Exeter Northcott, Exeter
www.exeternorthcott.co.uk | 01392 493493

21 - 25 Apr 2009
Citizens Theatre, Glasgow
www.citz.co.uk | 0141 429 0022

27 - 30 May 2009
Northern Stage, Newcastle
www.northernstage.co.uk | 0191 230 5151

2 - 6 Jun 2009
Nuffield Theatre, Southampton
www.nuffieldtheatre.co.uk | 023 8067 1771

9 - 13 Jun 2009
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
www.belgrade.co.uk | 024 7655 3055

16 - 20 Jun 2009
Harrogate Theatre, Harrogate
www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk | 01423 502 116

 

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