April 2008

UPSTAIRS at the GATEHOUSE, Highgate Village, London N6 4BD

'Far From the Madding Crowd’ April 23rd - May 17th 2008

'Traffic of the Stage's production pays homage to Hardy's unique insights into the human condition.'

Adapted by John Cooper and directed by Harry Meacher this show comes from the same creative team responsible for bringing Traffic of the Stage's production of Jane Austen's 'Emma' to Upstairs at the Gatehouse in 2004.

English Touring Theatre

'Far From The Madding Crowd'

English Touring Theatre is set to tour a production of 'Far from the Madding Crowd'. Perri Blakelock tells us that it has not been written or cast yet and the tour venues have not been confirmed. Definite information will appear as soon as they have it, which should be any day now, on www.ett.org.uk

Look out for this in October at the Oxford Playhouse where Sarah Dodd says the Learning Department is planning a Hardy week with pre-show talks, interviews and discussions.

Thomas Hardy Society Promotion With OUP

Oxford University Press is pleased to offer members of the Thomas Hardy Society 20% off Thomas Hardy's 'Poetical Matter' Notebook edited by Pamela Dalziel and Michael Millgate. To claim this discount visit www.oup.co.uk/sale/WEBSOCHAR

Claire Tomalin

On 24th April 2008 Claire Tomalin visits The Exchange in Sturminster Newton. www.stur-exchange.co.uk

The Dorset based performing arts outreach charity responsible for taking live entertainment to the County's rural outposts, has its latest season's listings at www.artsreach.co.uk

March 2008

Cross-in-Hand, Dorset

The stone pillar has recently received some significant attention. It is on the road, which runs south of High Stoy over Batcombe Hill to Holywell, Evershot.

Tony Fincham visited the site and found:

'Instead of being submerged in the hedge and grassy overgrowth, it now has its own protective enclosure. Whilst it is unfortunate that the farmer has seen fit to grub the hedge - this ancient monument (Pevsner suggests that it is pre-Norman) is now more clearly displayed than it has been for a long time.’

The pillar has been considered by some as an ecclesiastical boundary stone or may 'mark the site of a miracle or murder, or both'. The miracle associated with the stone is the subject of Hardy's poem 'The Lost Pyx' Alec d'Urberville insisted that Tess place her hand on the stone and swear never to tempt him again.

December 2007

December 2007 - Thomas Hardy Society President
We are delighted to announce that the writer, actor and film director Julian Fellowes has agreed to become the Society's President.

April 2007

National Trust News Dorset Evening Echo 18
Plans to offer Hardys Cottage as a holiday let have been dropped for the time being
at least.

The charity announced that it was dropping the proposal after more than a third of those who responded to the consultation objected. Helen Mann, National Trust Property Manager said:

"The most contentious issue was our proposal to offer the cottage as a basic holiday let in the winter. The National Trust has considerable experience of sensitively converting protected buildings and managing them as holiday cottages. However we want to ensure that we reflect the breadth of views of those taking part in the consultation in our decision-making process. We have therefore, decided not to move forward with the holiday let proposal at this juncture. In the long term, however, we do want to leave open the possibility of considering whether to offer winter accommodation for specialist retreats at the cottage".

Norrie's Tale
This is the Autobiography of Mrs Norrie Woodhall, a remarkable lady who is the last surviving member of Thomas Hardy's 'Hardy Players' of the 1920's. Norrie's Tale gives an account of life in Dorchester where she was born at the beginning of the twentieth century, and of her's and her sister Gertrude's part in Hardy's plays at that time. The book is now on sale as a not-for-profit publication for £6.95.

Alan Hodge, 7 Holland's Mead Avenue, Owermoigne, Dorchester, DT2 8HX is running a mail order service for Thomas Hardy Society UK members who are not local to Dorchester. The post and packing charge is £1.20. Two to three weeks should be allowed for delivery. This is a Lullworde Publication.

15th Century Rampisham Ox for public viewing
The recently rediscovered Rampisham Ox is now being made available for public viewing for the first time. Thomas Hardy Society members will remember Hardy's well loved poem The Oxen. Professor Claudius Beatty identified his inspiration for this poem as the fifteenth century stone carving of a kneeling ox in Rampisham Church, Dorset.

Hardy worked on the church restoration in 1858-59. A decade earlier its fine Gothic chancel was designed by Augustus W Pugin.homas Hardy Society members are invited to visit the church.

For private viewings of the Rampisham Ox contact Michael Nisbet 01935 83263 michaelnisbet@mac.com

Alternatively choose to visit on one of the National Garden Scheme Open Days 2008:
Rampisham Manor Gardens are open Sun 20 Apr; Sun 25, Wed 28 May 2-5pm

The Thomas Hardy Society 18th International Conference and Festival, Dorchester, Dorset. UK

The Thomas Hardy Society's Fortieth Anniversary Conference 26 July - 2 August 2008 programme is well underway and will contain an exciting mix of lectures, seminars, talks, poetry readings, excursions, walks and entertainments.

Further details can be found on the Conference page.