Thomas Hardy in words and music
On the 186th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Hardy, Lighthouse Poole is looking to forward to welcoming actor Anton Lesser – soon to appear in the much-anticipated Harry Potter HBO series – who will play Dorset’s most famous literary son in A Beautiful Thread at Lighthouse on Thursday 25 June.
A unique show that tells the story of Hardy’s life – as dramatic as any of his books – in Hardy’s own words, A Beautiful Thread incorporates Hardy’s sublime poetry, letters, and great novels, including Far From the Madding Crowd, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, and Jude the Obscure. Adapted by Deirdre Shields, Hardy’s extraordinary writing shines bright as ever.
Having delighted audiences from London to Stonehenge, Anton Lesser (Endeavour, Wolf Hall, Andor, Game of Thrones) and Lucia Bonbright bring a hugely varied cast to dazzling life: from Hardy’s immortal characters, Hardy himself, his mother, Jemima and wives, Emma and Florence, to George Bernard Shaw and Virginia Woolf. The show highlights Hardy’s humour (often overlooked!), his modernity, the astonishing timespan he lived through, and his global reach, from Wessex to Hollywood.
Thomas Hardy put more music in his novels than any other writer, and Orchestra of the Swan’s Artistic Director, David Le Page has devised a musical programme of shimmering beauty in a Mellstock folk band style, that weaves around the words, from classical music – Holst, Warlock – to contemporary folk, performed live by on-stage musicians from Orchestra of the Swan.
Anton Lesser says: “Words and Music is a kind of unique genre, neither pure reading, nor acting, but with an immediacy that comes from the huge emotional impact the music has upon the words, and vice versa, and the interplay we actors enjoy with the musicians on-stage. Quite simply, it’s the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever done!”
Thursday 25 June, 7.45pm (Theatre)
Tickets and information call 01202 280000 or visit www.lighthousepoole.co.uk
