A NEW show will explore the life of Thomas Hardy through words and music.
A Beautiful Thread – Thomas Hardy in Words and Music will be performed by Anton Lesser, Lucia Bonbright, and Orchestra of the Swan.
The show will bring Hardy's life, poetry, and novels to the stage, including Far From the Madding Crowd, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, and Jude the Obscure.
The show will be performed at Longborough Opera House on Friday (May 23).
Lesser, who starred in Game of Thrones, said: "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 as actors enjoy with the musicians on-stage.
"Quite simply, it’s the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever done."
The show will explore Hardy's humour, modernity, and global reach, from Hollywood to Japan.
Lesser said: "The show is full of love, life and laughter.
"Laughter isn’t something you necessarily associate with Hardy, but he could be very funny, and our writer, Deirdre Shields, has mined some wonderful humour.
"This show is for anyone who loves Hardy, vaguely remembers reading Hardy at school, has seen the numerous film and TV adaptations - or who knows nothing at all about Hardy."
He explained: "The show tells the story of his life - through his letters, great novels and poetry – through to his ending – which is more Thomas Hardy than a Thomas Hardy novel.
"Hardy is often portrayed as this Victorian novelist, but in many ways, he was a thoroughly modern man, who travelled on the Tube, and cut deals with Hollywood."
Speaking on his familiarity with the work of Hardy, Lesser said: "I knew the novels, but I have been transported, discovering Hardy’s poetry.
"The poems are like little dramas, they draw you into the whole world within a few lines.
"I went straight out and bought a massive Collected Poems. I began turning down the pages of poetry I liked.
"If you saw the spine of the book now, almost every page is marked – it’s ridiculous."
For tickets and more information, visit hambletts.com.
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