The Players performed at Buckham Fair, held on Beaminster Down, Sunday 22nd August 2010. Readings from Dorset Voices were part of the entertainment. Proceeds from Buckham Fair will be donated to the Weldmar Hospice Trust.
A perfomance of The Mayor of Casterbridge at the Lighthouse, Poole on 23rd July 2010 was enjoyed by a large and receptive audience. This 'reprise' performance of our 2009 production went without a hitch and was repeated on Sunday 25th July at the United Church, Dorchester as part of the international Hardy Conference. InformationI
A "hardy" crowd enjoyed a performance in the lovely setting of Lulworth Cove. The cliffs in the background helped to create Hardy's imaginary Lulwind Cove and the smuggling that took place there in his well observed story The Distracted Preacher. The weather threatened its own special effects to create the illusion of the cliff tops on a wet and blustery night, but decided to leave this to the actors.
Hundreds turned up on a glorious sunny evening to watch The Distracted Preacher in the Borough Gardens in Dorchester on Sunday 27th July. A large sum of money was collected from a very appreciative audience and there will be a sizeable donation to local charity after expenses. The players were honoured that Town Mayor Les Phillips and his wife Vonty attended. Sincere thanks to the Town Clerk, Dennis Holmes, and his staff for helping to make this such a great event.
Corfe Castle was a the atmospheric setting for The Distracted Preacher on Sunday 20th June, The audience of 80+ included the wife and friends of the late Ray Sargent who adapted the play. Thanks to many of the audience who took the trouble to make such positive and encouraging comments.
The first performance of The Distracted Preacher was well received by an enthusiastic Bridport audience. Fortunately, the rain added to the bleakness of the cliff top scene set at Lulwind Cove!
A short extract from the play was performed in South Street, Dorchester on Saturday 5th June outside Char Chars Tea rooms. The players went on to perform again for the Hardy birthday celebration at County Hall. Local dignitaries, led by Town Mayor Les Phillips, watched the performance along with members and guests of the Thomas Hardy society.
Monday 15th March, Dorset Voices at West Lulworth Village Hall. The NHPs entertained the W.I. Group Meeting. A great evening was had by all.
Hardy's Night Chapter and Verse was a great success. £2,500 was raised. Click here for more details "Hardy collection saved!"
A Skimmity ride took place in South Street, Dorchester on Saturday 13th February to help publicise Hardy's Evening Chapter and Verse" (12th March, Dorset Count Museum) and to highlight the need save the Hardy collection.
Happy Birthday! To The New Hardy Players President Norrie Woodhall. Norrie the only person still living who knew Thomas Hardy reached the stately age of 104 in December 2009.
The 'Christmas Dorset Voices' at the County Museum was a resounding success, despite Norrie giving us all a bit of a fright! The audience were very complimentary about the whole evening. Many commented that Norrie gave the best ever performance of The Ruined Maid. We were all enthralled by her surprise poem about her feelings and aspirations for the players. What a trooper!
'Dorset Voices' performances at Pen Selwood, Sydling and Netherbury were received with great enthusiasm by substantial audiences.
A special event to launch a new tea devised by Dorchester based Char Char's took place on Sunday 30th November. Norrie Woodhall and other players performed a variety of Hardy works, plus a special poem written by Brian Caddy to celebrate the occasion.
'Dorset Voices' heard in Somerset: More than 70 people attended St Michael's church in the tiny village of Pen Selwood, Somerset to enjoy an evening of 'Dorset Voices' .This is the first time the players have been invited to perform outside of Dorset, and the £700 proceeds from this very special evening were donated to the charity CRY, in memory of a Pen Selwood boy. Cardiac Relief in the Young supports research into sudden unexplained death in young people, and offers support to bereaved families. For more infomation visit www.c-r-y.org.uk.
EXCITING NEWS for 2010:
Tim Laycock will direct the summer 2010 production of Thomas Hardy's "The Distracted Preacher" Tim will add a musical twist to this Hardy romance, adapted by the very talented Ray Sargent. This should prove to the most doubtful that Hardy had a considerable sense of humour!.
The Mayor of Casterbridge will be performed at the Lighthouse, Poole. Other peformances are planned, including a special performance as part of the Hardy Festival at the United Church, Dorchester.
NEWS for 2009
Autumn 2009: The first booking for the 2009/10 season of Dorset Voices is Wincanton, 15th November. See the Dorset Voices page for up to date information.
Pantotime is approaching and the Winfrith Drama Group are off to streets paved with gold . To find out more about Dick Whittington go to http://www.winfrithdramagroup.org/
On 23rd September, our president, Norrie Woodhall, presented two cheques to Caroline Nickinson from the Weldmar Hospice for the wonderful combined amount of £3,765. It was a happy occasion attended by Mrs Cree from Moignes Court, our chairman, John Yonwin, Brian Caddy, Diane Stonham and Devina Symes.
'June-July 2009: The Mayor of Casterbridge' was performed in many locations throughout Dorset during June and July 2009. This clever adaption by Devina Symes was very well received by large and enthusiastic audiences.
Spring 2009: Dorset Voices was a great success. Dorset Voices old and new were heard at many locations in Dorset.
Nov-Dec 2008: The New Hardy Players completed their 2008 season of Dorset Voices. Performances of 'Summer Joy', 'Autumn Joy' and 'Winter Joy' were very well received at many venues throughout Dorset. The United Church, Dorchester, hosted the final performance of 'Winter Joy'. A week later (Dec13th) the NHP's joined the Stanchester Quire there to read poetry and prose as part of the Quire's "Glad Tidings" concert.
Sept-Oct 2008: Matt Worth made a sponsored trek to Machu Picchu in Peru to raise funds for Amnesty international. The NHP's supported his adventure with a special performance called 'Hardy On-line'. Adam Symes made this possible by 'streaming' live video of 'Hardy On-line' through the power of www.helloworld.com
July-August 2008: Adaptations by Jennifer Bailey of Hardy's "The Waiting Supper" and "The Thieves who couldn't help sneezing" were performed venues across Dorset, such as within the walls of Corfe Castle. The money raised was donated to the Weldmar Hospice Trust.
