THE New Hardy Players are back on tour this summer with their unique production of the Woodlanders, one of Thomas Hardy’s most poetic, magical and controversial novels.

It was also the first major story he completed in his Dorchester home of Max Gate, which is now owned by the National Trust.

The story begins with Marty South working tirelessly to make ends meet while caring for her ill father and harbouring the secret of her love for Giles Winterbourne.

Giles’s familiar and comfortable world is turned upside down when his childhood sweetheart and true love Grace Melbury returns to the community a cultured and refined young woman.

With the arrival of the dashing Dr Edred Fitzpiers, coupled with the actions of the glamorous and powerful Mrs Charmond, a tangled web of deceit and betrayal unfolds, set against an undercurrent of love and unity that continues to rustle through the leaves of the wood, empowering all within Hintock.

The play is directed by Tim Laycock, Emma Hill and Carole Redhouse and the cast includes Sophie Cridland who plays Grace Melbury, Robert Cole as Dr Fitzpiers and Connor Dooley as Giles Winterbourne.

Tim, who also plays the role of Timothy Tangs, said: “It’s all going extremely well and we have such a large cast of almost 30 actors.

“It is a very interesting story to work with and quite complex and we are approaching it so that the wood becomes another character within the tale. We are dramatising the wood and people are playing the trees.

“Thomas Hardy talks about the trees being alive and the people living in the wood have very different relationships with the trees around them.

“Some hate them and some love them and make a living from the trees and their lives are affected by them, so I wanted to weave this through the tale.”

The actors are a mix of old and new players and Tim added that there are some very good ‘old Dorset’ accents to be heard, especially from Bill Caddy, Sue Worth, Charles Buckler and Barbara Perkins.

The original intention was to perform The Woodlanders last year but the right cast failed to materialise.

The New Hardy Players were also thrown when their oldest member Norrie Woodhall died two years ago aged 105.

“When Norrie died everyone was feeling it was the end but then it was decided no, we would go for it and get a script and more people and here we are,” said Tim.

“The Woodlanders was the first major novel that Hardy completed after moving to Max Gate and we have a very positive relationship with the house and they are very supportive.

“We keep costumes there which people can try on and take photographs and it is wonderful for us to be able to rehearse and put on a show there too.”

The New Hardy Players are performing The Woodlanders at Max Gate Dorchester on August 16, followed by a gala night in aid of Weldmar Hospicecare Trust also at Max Gate on August 17.

The show then travels to Minterne House on August 23, Waddock Coppice on August 24, Bridport’s Millennium Green on August 30 and Watercombe House on August 31.

All performances are at 7pm and are outdoors, so please bring something to sit on and warm clothes.

Tickets are £10, apart from the gala night when you can pay an additional £10 for a Dorset Fayre buffet after the show (advance booking essential), and the Minterne House performance which is £10 in advance, £12.50 on the night.

To book call 01305 269510, for Max Gate bookings only call 01305 262538.

Further details from newhardyplayers@gmail.com and hardyonline.org