A drama, bringing to life two of the most famous literary characters, is to be enacted as part of a pilot project paving the way for other schools to learn more about the Brontes of Haworth.

Pupils at Scotchman Middle School, Bradford - almost all British-Asian - will present, The Door to Wuthering Heights, at the schoolroom in Haworth where Charlotte Bronte once taught.

It is part of an £8,000 scheme set up last summer, funded by the Department for Education and Employment, aimed at introducing the Brontes to inner-city children.

The pupils, all 12 and 13, will enact part of the novel, written by Emily Bronte, on Wednesday, March 29.

Deputy head teacher Alex Fellowes and the children have been working in conjunction with the Bronte Parsonage Museum education officer Andrew McCarthy and their preparatory work has been photographed by Oxenhope-based photographer, Simon Warner.

Mr Fellowes said: "We have been exploring Emily Bronte through drama. The quality of work has been quite stunning in parts." The children, dressed in period costume, will present the first part of the novel, which involves Heathcliff's relationship with Cathy, his flight and dramatic return two years later.

"It is very important that British-Asian children get their entitlement to their own British culture and well as their Asian culture.

"Because of the work we have been doing some of the children have gone out and bought the book and read it - and they haven't been forced to.

Mr McCarthy said: "It has been a tremendous success, bringing the world of the Brontes to life for children who might otherwise have not encountered them in any meaningful way, or seen them as relevant to their own lives."

The performance takes place at 2pm and parents have been invited to watch, look around the Parsonage and view the exhibition of photographs documenting the project.

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