Calling all Canberra Cathies – the biggest celebration of Brontë and Bush is coming to the NFSA

Posted on 18 July, 2025

Grab your reddest dress and don your greenest eyeshadow, because The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever is taking over the National Film and Sound Archive.

Taking over the iconic Canberra institution on Saturday 26 July, The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever (TMWHDE) is celebrating its ninth year of raising funds for Domestic Violence Crisis Service (DVCS) in the capital.

A whimsical global tribute to Kate Bush and her iconic 1978 hit Wuthering Heights, the global event was inspired by UK performance art group, Shambush.

Beginning as a flash mob and blossoming into an annual global celebration where participants gather to re-enact Bush’s wild and wonderful dance, since 2016, the event brings together wutherers from around the world to roll and fall in green to raise funds for women’s charities.

“Local groups of people get together, dress in red, dance Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights choreography but use it as an opportunity to raise funds for services or charities that support women,” explains Canberra TMWHDE organiser Brooke Thomas.

“It’s this great blend of encouraging people to try dance in a really supportive environment, while also raising money for important causes. And it’s just turned into a global event organically, which is a delightful thing to be a part of.”

Credit: Maun Luke Photography.

Bringing TMWHDE to Canberra in 2017, Brooke instantly knew she wanted all of the funds donated by dancers (and TMWHDE fans) to go to the DVCS to help provide support, advice, domestic violence resources, and services in Canberra and beyond.

Raising several thousand dollars for the DVCS over the years, Brooke and her dancers are proud to make a difference in the community.

“The novel Wuthering Heights is based on such an abusive, troubling relationship fundamentally, that it kind of made sense to support an organisation that helps to deal with abusive relationships,” she says.

“I actually know quietly that over the years that there are quite a few survivors of domestic violence who have participated as dancers and that’s a really special thing to me, that they participate and they feel a part of this really supportive group of people.”

Wuthering on the lawns of the NFSA from 10.30 am – which might not be a wily, windy moor but does make for a cinematic setting – on the day you can expect a lot of laughter, music and dramatic twirling as Canberra Cathies gather in a sea of red.

And to keep you warm pre- and post-dance, Melted Toasted Sandwich Emporium will be operating a pop-up café with coffee, toasties, and pastries.

Open to all ages, genders and abilities, the only requirements for the hour-long gathering are to dress in red, pop a red rose in your hair and go wild with green eyeshadow – and for Canberra wutherers to donate what they can to DVCS.

Grab a rose and start practising your best Kate Bush-inspired moves –  learn it online from the comfort of home here or join a free community rehearsal at Canberra Dance Theatre (dates and details) – and get ready for the most wuthering day Canberra has ever seen!

Feature image: Callum Bowen.