Britain's What's On Event Guide
A Beautiful Thread: Thomas Hardy in Words and Music
Performed by Anton Lesser, Lucia Bonbright, and Orchestra of the Swan.
Starring Anton Lesser, A Beautiful Thread weaves Hardy's life – dramatic as any of his books – with his beautiful poetry and great novels, including Far From the Madding Crowd, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, and Jude the Obscure. Hardy put more music into his work than any other writer, and Orchestra of the Swan's Artistic Director, David Le Page has devised a musical programme of shimmering beauty - a Mellstock folk band style, that combines West Gallery music with Holst, Warlock and contemporary folk. Adapted by Deirdre Shields, Hardy's extraordinary writing shines bright as ever.
Anton Lesser and Lucia Bonbright bring a hugely varied cast to dazzling life: from Hardy, his mother, Jemima and his wives, Emma and Florence, to George Bernard Shaw, and Virginia Woolf, along with the immortal characters from his novels. The show also highlights Hardy’s humour (often overlooked!), his modernity, the astonishing time-span he lived through, and his global reach, from Hollywood to Japan.
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 as actors enjoy with the musicians on-stage. Quite simply, it’s the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever done!
Narrators Anton Lesser, Lucia Bonbright
With Orchestra of the Swan
Director Judy Reaves
Music Director David Le Page,
Producer Hambletts
Starring Anton Lesser, A Beautiful Thread weaves Hardy's life – dramatic as any of his books – with his beautiful poetry and great novels, including Far From the Madding Crowd, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, and Jude the Obscure. Hardy put more music into his work than any other writer, and Orchestra of the Swan's Artistic Director, David Le Page has devised a musical programme of shimmering beauty - a Mellstock folk band style, that combines West Gallery music with Holst, Warlock and contemporary folk. Adapted by Deirdre Shields, Hardy's extraordinary writing shines bright as ever.
Anton Lesser and Lucia Bonbright bring a hugely varied cast to dazzling life: from Hardy, his mother, Jemima and his wives, Emma and Florence, to George Bernard Shaw, and Virginia Woolf, along with the immortal characters from his novels. The show also highlights Hardy’s humour (often overlooked!), his modernity, the astonishing time-span he lived through, and his global reach, from Hollywood to Japan.
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 as actors enjoy with the musicians on-stage. Quite simply, it’s the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever done!
Narrators Anton Lesser, Lucia Bonbright
With Orchestra of the Swan
Director Judy Reaves
Music Director David Le Page,
Producer Hambletts
Sunday 7 Sep 25
Theatre Royal Winchester
21-23 Jewry Street Hampshire SO23 8SB
Sun 07 Sep 20253pm
Running time: approx. 2hrs (inc. interval)
Tickets from £19
Members Offer: 10% off tickets (excluding band C)
Organised by
Theatre Royal Winchester
Spread the word
Similar Current Events
Boyband in the Buff: Starring Gareth Gates
Friday 24 April Theatre Royal Winchester 21-23 Jewry Street Winchester
Friday 24 April Theatre Royal Winchester 21-23 Jewry Street Winchester
Ben & Tom Waters: A Very Special Night of Boogie, Blues & Rock ’n’ Rol
Wednesday 10 June Theatre Royal Winchester 21-23 Jewry Street Winchester
Wednesday 10 June Theatre Royal Winchester 21-23 Jewry Street Winchester
Pam Ayres: Doggedly Onward
Wednesday 15 April Theatre Royal Winchester 21-23 Jewry Street Winchester
Wednesday 15 April Theatre Royal Winchester 21-23 Jewry Street Winchester
There’s a Snake in My School by David Walliams
Tuesday 7 April and Wednesday 8 April Theatre Royal Winchester 21-23 Jewry Street Winchester
Tuesday 7 April and Wednesday 8 April Theatre Royal Winchester 21-23 Jewry Street Winchester
Fun for Little Ones Live: A Tribute to Ms Rachel
Thursday 9 April Theatre Royal Winchester 21-23 Jewry Street Winchester
Thursday 9 April Theatre Royal Winchester 21-23 Jewry Street Winchester