Must a rural idyll give way to a bright new future? Thomas Hardy shows the unfolding of a new way of life in his beloved Wessex
Wessex and Hardy; on the cusp of change is a new play by Ann Davidson being performed by Newbury Dramatic Society around the area.
Thomas Hardy, poet and novelist, shows the unfolding of a new way of life in his beloved Wessex.
Must a rural idyll give way to a bright new future? Were either true anyway?
Using traditional music and costume, well-loved works and hidden gems, the Newbury-based amateur dramatics group aim to bring to life this onward march.
We asked Ann to tell us more about the production and what motivated her to write it.
“I was asked by two of the venues to produce an entertainment to fundraise for them. As the Chequers hotel is on the Hardy Trail, and the other places are all ‘Wessex’ in feeling, it seemed a good idea to use Hardy as a base.”
“I have written about six of these mini treatments over the years, mostly about poets or writers, because it is such good fun to be on the road, both for me and the actors (and is fulfilling our motto of ‘playing for the community’).
Wessex and Hardy; on the cusp of change took Ann about three weeks to write, on and off.
“I already knew quite a bit about Hardy's novels, having directed two play adaptations at the Watermill for NDS, and I was very keen to explore his wonderful poetry more.
“His interest in the plight of women, and his love of the countryside, were of special meaning to me; although the treatment of his own wives left something to be desired!”
So why does Ann write specifically for this particular amateur dramatics company? “NDS is the society I feel close to. I direct and write for it because I cannot act! And have deep friendships within it. We all work together, and encourage each others talents, and are very welcoming to all.
“The audience will , I hope, be entertained by our intimate performances, and will learn a bit more about the interesting ideas Hardy was promoting in all his works.”
Performance schedule:
Friday, May 24 Chequers Hotel (now on the Hardy Society Trail)
Tuesday, May 28 Kingsclere Library
Wednesday, May 29 St Michael’s Church, Enborne
Thursday, May 30 Fawley Church, Fawley
Friday, May 31: The Hall at Lambourn Catholic Church
all at 7.30pm.
Details and tickets from ann.enborne@hotmail.co.uk or unreserved from the venues at the door.
Prices £8 to £10.
One of the most renowned poets and novelists in English literary history, Hardy was born in 1840 in Dorset. Thomas Hardy's Wessex is the literary landscape created by the author as the setting for his major novels.
The Thomas Hardy Society, Dorchester www.hardysociety.org is one of the largest literary societies in the world, dedicated to the work of the novelist and poet Thomas Hardy (1840-1928). His final novel Jude the Obscure (1895) takes place mostly in and around Newbury and Oxford, lightly disguised under the fictional names Kennetbridge and Christminster.
The topography of Newbury at that time is accurately described, where Northbrook Street is the “long straight street of the borough”. The Chequers Hotel is expressly mentioned in the novel as a favourable place to stay.
