Norrie, 104, takes to the stage to save Thomas Hardy collection

12:00pm Tuesday 16th March 2010

By Joanna Davis

AMAZING Norrie Woodhall took to the stage at the age of 104 for a cause close to her heart.

The actress, who is believed to be the oldest thespian in the world, has used her years of experience to help bring a crucial Thomas Hardy collection to Dorchester.

Norrie performed to an audience at Dorset County Museum in a benefit evening that raised £2,500 for a £58,000 fundraising drive to bring the manuscripts back to Hardy’s birthplace.

At the latest count, the group had raised more than £50,000, with more money rolling in through donations.

It now looks inevitable that the manuscripts, featuring hand-written production notes, programmes and stage set models, will come to the county town before the April 17 deadline.

Centenarian Norrie read her specially-penned poem, One Hundred and Four, which looked ahead while at the same time reflected on her life.

The last remaining member of the original Hardy Players, she joined the New Hardy players to raise money for the Hardy Players Manuscript Fund.

Thomas Hardy himself cast Norrie as Tess’s sister Liza Lu in the stage version of Tess of the D’Urbervilles, which was performed in Dorchester in 1928.

Andy Worth, of the New Hardy Players, said he was delighted that the drive to bring the manuscripts to Dorset County Museum looks as though it has paid off.

“We have been heartened by the fact that a wide range of people from across the community have had their interest stimulated by this.”

A group of Exeter University students successfully bid £45 to have tea with Norrie.

The contingent came from Devon to learn about the collection as part of their English studies.

Dr Angelique Richardson, a senior lecturer in English at the university, said: “The collection is of great significance to the South West.

“Through research at the university’s centre for South West writing and centre for Victorian studies, we recognise that the material will shed light on Hardy’s relationship with the Dorchester community.

“It will also tell us more about the response to his work in the period after he had ceased writing fiction.”

The Museums Libraries and Archives Council and Victoria & Albert Purchase Grant Fund have recently offered £12,000 towards the purchase of the manuscripts.

The final outcome for the Hardy manuscripts – which faced export before it was blocked by the culture minister last year – is likely to be confirmed in the next few weeks.

A spokesman for Guinness World Records said that they were not aware of anyone older still performing on stage but would have to verify if Norrie was indeed a record breaker.