YOU may have heard the name but you probably wouldn’t recognise him.

Actor, folk musician, director and storyteller Tim Laycock, pictured, has become synonymous with plays and readings which can only be described as pure, unadulterated, Dorset.

From musical director of Dorchester’s recent community play Drummer Hodge to reader of the poems of one of Dorset’s most famous sons, William Barnes, Tim has become a permanent fixture of Dorset’s arts scene.

He has a busy weekend ahead, performing at Hardy’s Birthplace tonight and opening the Dorset Food and Arts Festival in Poundbury tomorrow.

The festival, to be held at Queen Mother Square, Poundbury, is now in its third year and will celebrate local food and drink and artistic creativity in Dorset.

Tim, who is an artist in residence at the National Trust Hardy properties, said: “I’m really looking forward to the festival. The cast members of Drummer Hodge are going to have a reunion. A lot of us from the play have been in Wessex Scenes and we’re going to be doing an extract from Wessex Scenes during the festival as well.

“It will be a lovely occasion.”

Wessex Scenes, which is being performed at venues across Dorset by the New Hardy Players, was written by Hardy during the First World War to raise money for the Red Cross. It was culled by Hardy from his longer dramatic work, The Dynasts.

“This particular play is very accessible and has lots of songs and music in it.

“It’s a good example of Hardy’s comic writing and the type of fun we can have with it,” Tim said.

Dorchester resident Tim will be bringing Hardy to life once again tonight at Hardy’s Cottage at Higher Bockhampton.

He will be performing alongside fiddle player Colin Thompson doing a programme of readings, dance tunes and songs called Hardy in Love.

“It’s a very evocative intimate atmosphere in which to hear and enjoy the music and writings of Thomas Hardy.”

Tim grew up in North Dorset in Fontwell Magna. His dad was headmaster of the village school and Tim lived in the Victorian school house. He moved to Dorchester 12 years ago.

He said: “I’ve really enjoyed living there. I think we’re starting to see a resurgence of the arts in the area - there’s always going to be audiences for good quality work. My experience is that the work is getting better.

“Artsreach does a fantastic job and provides so many things for people of different ages. I would very much welcome a new theatre in West Dorset. I think there’s some thought of having one in Poundbury and I’d like to see a theatre in Brewery Square.

“Dorchester needs to have a proper theatre.”

Last year, Tim was musical director of the RSC’s touring production of A Winter’s Tale and he is currently helping with a group which meets in Dorset County Museum every Monday called the Museum Makers.

l Tickets for Tim’s show tonight at Hardy’s Cottage are very limited because the parlour is so small. They cost £15. Call 01305 262366.