The New Hardy Players were formed in 2005 to celebrate the works of Dorset's world famous and much loved author and poet Thomas Hardy.
A friendly and supportive group from all walks of Dorset life, the players meet throughout the year to perform work written by Dorset writers, and to enjoy each others company. The annual Hardy related play is rehearsed and performed during the spring and summer months. The autumn winter and spring months bring performances from a feast of Dorset Voices that include Hardy, Barnes and new work written by the groups own talented writers.
Norrie Woodhall, 104 and one half, is our guide, inspiration and President. Norrie started her acting career at the tender age of sixteen as a member of the Hardy Players, which disbanded after the poet's death in 1928, aged 87. Norrie was cast by Hardy himself as Tess' sister, Liza Lu in the stage version of his novel, Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Hardy promptly added some lines to her part when he thought she did not have enough to say! Norrie has some particular memories of that time, especially the way her sister Gertude was treated by Hardy's second wife, Florence. Her account of this is written into the play she wrote with playwright Devina Symes for the 2007 NHP season A Life of Three Strands. Norrie has written a book entitled Norrie's Tale - An Autobiography of the Last of the Hardy Players where you can read more about the intrigue surrounding this painful memory, and some other very revealing memories about life in Dorset's county town around the beginning of the 20th Century.
2009 brought "The Mayor of Casterbridge" back to its roots. This Hardy classic, adapted by Devina Symes, and long awaited by Norrie Woodhall, was performed by the New Hardy Players during the summer months.
Since their formation in 2005, the New Hardy Players have raised more than £19,000 for the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust from their summer productions, and £9000 for local charities from their programme of ‘Dorset Voices.’
