Valentines is the theme for Dorset Voices at St Michael's church Penselwood, Saturday Feb 11th 2012 at 7.30pm.Tickets cost £7 on the door. A Raffle will raise funds for CRY and ticket sales will be shared between the Players and the church.. Venue information
Winfrith Drama are presenting "Stepping Out" by Richard Harris in Winfrith on 30th and 31st March. Tickets from Winfrith post office or use the booking form on their website .winfrithdramagroup.org
Archive News 2011
A Dorset Voices evening was held at Tarrant Keynston on Saturday 3rd December. The Players enjoyed the evening every bit as much as the audience and organisers. The friendly banter between the Master of Ceremonies, the Players, and a certain young member of the audience, made an excellent evening of entertainment pass all too quickly.
A Thanksgiving service for Norrie Woodhall's Life took place at the United Church, Dorchester, 2pm, Monday 21st November 2011. Norrie was very proud of her New Hardy Players and would have loved the devotion shown by everyone there.
Norrie Woodhall asked us to perform "The Woodlanders" forour summer production in 2012. The adaptation is being written by Emily Fearn with the help of Devina Symes.
Dorset Voices - Performance at Tarrant Keynston - 3rd December 2011.
After eleven successful performances our tour of Tess of the d’Urbervilles has come to an end. Thanks to everyone who supported us by coming along to our performances, sometimes more than once! We are planning our winter programme and next years summer production. We look forward to enjoying your company in the future.
The final performance of Tess of the d'Urbervilles was presented to a very large audience at Athelhampton House, near Dorchester at 7pm on Friday 26th August. Information
A special performance of Tess of the d'Urbervilles took place the garden of Max Gate, Dorchester Thursday 25th August 7pm.
The BBC invited the New Hardy Players to perform the wife selling scene from The Mayor of Casterbridge for an insert into their Countrywise programme. In the programme, first broadcast on Sunday 14th August 2011, John Craven explores Hardy Country in some detail. The Players travelled to Weyhill fairground near Andover, which Hardy probably visited and imagined to be Weydon Fair.
The first performance of Tess of the d'Urbervilles took place on Friday 3rd June 2011. Norrie Woodhall as the guest of honour and enjoyed seeing Hardy's masterpiece performed in the Corn Exchange Dorchester for the first time since 1924, 87 years since she first appeared before Hardy himself to deliver the extra line he gave to her character Liza Lou. Norrie's sister Gertrude played Tess, who he felt was the ideal vision of his character. Emma Hill played Tess alongside Eddie Dale as her true love Angel Clare and Terry Bird as the bounder Alec d'Urberville. The scipt was adapted by Devina Symes who included the final scene as done in the 1924 version at Norries request..
Norrie Woodhall enjoyed a special preview of some key scenes from Tess at her home. Norrie passed her much valued opinion and gave her enthusiastic approval.
The London Hermit: Or Rambles In Dorsetshire was written by John O'Keefe in 1798 while on holiday in Lulworth. This very amusing Georgian comedy surprised and delightd an enthusiastic audience. The play, directed by Tim Laycock, was performed as a dramatised reading by the New Hardy Players and guests in Victorian Gallery at the Dorset County Museum. The reading was inspired by the Georgian Faces exhibition.
From Time to Time directed by Julian Fellowes is available on DVD from a number of reatail outlets. Don't miss this thrilling adventure!
Click for details about Tess of the d'Urbervilles More info
News 2010
Happy Birthday! to our wonderful president, Norrie Woodhall, on reaching her 105th year. To celebrate this wonderful occasion Norrie performed two of her own poems during a special presentation at the United Church, Dorchester. An Audience with Norrie was devised by Devina Symes for the New Hardy Players to make Norrie's birthday a very special day. Despite the snow and difficult travelling conditions Norrie, her family, the Players and the audience made it to the church and had a wonderful time.listening to music, poems and readings, and enjoying birthday cake, sandwiches and mince pies.
November 2010
The New Hardy Players and our wonderful President Norrie took part in this first class programme produced by Mary Ward-Lowery. Julian Fellowes told the story of The Hardy Players, an amateur theatre group inspired and supported by Thomas Hardy, whose celebrity status drew London critics to Dorchester to review the performances for the national newspapers. Original cast member Norrie Woodhall, who still performs occasionally with The New Hardy Players, recalls the rehearsals at the author's home. More info
The As One Theatre Company presented their final performance of their autumn season. "She Opened the Door!" plays at the The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage, The play is based on fact interweaving the real and fictional women from Hardy's life and work with his first wife Emma at its heart. More info.
The New Hardy Players attended a reception at the Dorset County Musuem where everyone had the opportunity to view the museums latest exhibition "Thomas Hardy on Stage and Screen", in whch the original Hardy Players are the major feature. In addition Dr Keith Wilson gave a talk about "Hardy Performed: Thomas Hardy and the Stage".
Players who were extras in Julian Fellowes new film "From Time to Time" attended a showing in the Athelhampton House Cinema along with friends and supporters. Thanks to Patrick Cooke, proud owner of the setting for this brilliant film, for his hospitality. More details
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 included the wife and friends of the late Ray Sargent who first 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.
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 the show.
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.
