Author: hardyplayer1

March 14 – Photo Shoot

Yet again we were lucky with the weather when we gathered three of the principal characters together for the first time on “Egdon Heath” just behind Hardy’s Birthplace.

Young man looking smart in shirt and cravat

Young woman with long hair, in black cloak with red lining

Young man in work shirt and waistcoat, holding a tankard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos above: Toby Ingram as Clym Yeobright, Kitty Sansom as Eustacia Vye, and Anthony Atkin as Damon Wildeve are pictured against Hardy’s famous brooding landscape.

 

Eustacia, Toby and Damon
Eustacia, Damon and Clym
Two young men and a young woman together, smiling
Damon, Eustacia and Clym

 

Watch this space for another set of photographs of our characters on the Heath.

Many thanks once again to Lou Pugh and her team for organising and making the costumes.

March 10 – Launch of Hardy Visitor Centre

Group of people in nineteenth century costume among trees

Some of the New Hardy Players helped launch the new National Trust Visitor Centre at Hardy’s Cottage in Higher Bockhampton today.  You can see two brief videos of the occasion by clicking on the links below:

BBC Spotlight

ITV News

You can find details of Hardy’s Cottage and the Visitor Centre on the National Trust website.

 

March 5 – Woodland Words

The New Hardy Players present a special programme of words and music as part of the official opening ceremony for the National Trust’s Thorncombe Woods Visitor Centre on Tuesday March 10th. This Visitor Centre serves Thomas Hardy’s cottage in Higher Bockhampton, near Dorchester – more info on the National Trust website.

ww Chris portraitww Emma portraitww Tim playing accordion

The thirty- minute programme is devised and directed by Tim Laycock, and features short acted extracts from The Woodlanders and Far From the Madding Crowd, as well as poetry and prose by Thomas Hardy, and local folksongs and music.

WW groupww Howard readingww Chris Emma

Thorncombe Woods and the heath beyond was Thomas Hardy’s playground as a young boy, and the landscape inspired some of his most memorable prose and poetry. ‘Under the Greenwood Tree’ and ‘Far From the Madding Crowd’ were both written in Hardy’s Cottage, and the stories of his mother’s early life in Melbury Osmond provided the raw material for The Woodlanders. ‘Woodland Words’ will be performed on the very edge of the wood in amongst the trees. Sadly, this performance will not be open to the public, but there will be an opportunity to see and hear it at Hardy’s Cottage on Saturday May 2nd. Further details once the timings are confirmed.

Feb 28 – Publicity shots on the heath

A brilliant sunny day on “Egdon Heath” on Saturday saw some of the furzecutters and heathfolk, from our forthcoming Production of “Return of the Native”, sharpening their tools as well as their acting skills!

This is the first of several photo shoots that we will be undertaking to promote the Play.

Four people in nineteenth century rural costume sitting on a bank

Furzecutters were: Evelyn Grey – played by Jill Withey, Charley – Tom Archer, and Rosy – Molly.

Heathfolk were Timothy Fairway played by Chris Pullen, Tabitha Cricket – Devina Symes and Marcia Hinton – Hilary Charlesworth.

A group of people, most in nineteenth century rural costume but some in twenty first century garb

Also shown are two of our brilliant costume team – Lou Pugh and Gerry Gwyther who will also be playing Furzecutters, plus Alison Payton – Assistant Director.

Two women in nineteenth century costume standing on a dirt track talking, with other people in the background
Photographs taken by Howard Payton – Director of the Production

Feb 15 – Return of The Native – first full rehearsal

The first full rehearsal of Hardy’s “The Return of The Native” took place on Sunday 15th of February at the Brownsword Hall In Poundbury.

It was great to see nearly 30 enthusiastic Hardy Players tackling and blocking two complicated ensemble scenes: Scene One and Scene Five. Blocking is the working out of who stands and moves where in each part of the play: one of those things a watcher takes for granted (if we get it right!) but which can take a long time to perfect and for the actors to remember.

Scene 1  is set on Egdon Heath and involves the Heathfolk and all the Furzecutters interacting around a bonfire on November 5th.

Scene 5 sees the Mummers give full voice and energy to the entertaining set piece which the company watch at a Christmas party.

Alastair Simpson ran a singing workshop too, to introduce the cast to a couple of the lively songs that will feature in the production.
Looking forward to building on this on Sunday March 8th when we will be rehearsing at The United Church in Dorchester.

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