ONE of the highlights of this year's Dorchester Festival is today's performance by The Hardy Players.

Resurrected from the days of Thomas Hardy and led by the indomitable Norrie Woodall - who performed in Hardy's time - they will be introduced by playwright and film director Julian Fellowes.

The group will be performing extracts from Under the Greenwood Tree, The Mayor of Casterbridge and The Return of the Native in Dorchester Corn Exchange at 3.45pm.

Julian, who lives in West Stafford House near Dorchester, said: "The players are a modern society largely inspired by Norrie, who is herself a living totem of a Dorset icon.

"She really is an extraordinary character, not just because she is 101, but because she has such tremendous powers of recall. When you talk to her you get not just her living memory, but a Dorset memory.

"She was there and she knew the people - even if she didn't like Emma Hardy very much!"

Tickets for the Hardy Players cost £6 on the door or in advance by calling 01305 2666926.

Although the festival is winding up today, there is still plenty to see and enjoy.

Children can enjoy the salty tale of Beneath the Waves (Corn Exchange, noon and 2pm, £5 plus concessions) and Dorchester Youth Theatre will be bringing Eastern European myths to life in Maumbury Rings between 1pm and 3pm, for free. The Rings will also host a wealth of events including Sufi dancing (1pm, £4), circus skills (noon-2pm, free), and jewellery making (3pm, £4).

The Quangle Wangle Choir will be on song, giving a workshop in Dorchester Arts Centre at 10am (£4) and a performance in the Big White Tent in the Rings at noon (free).

The life of Woody Guthrie is celebrated in the Rings at 11am, 1pm and 3.30pm while folk award finalist James Chadwick is on stage at 5.45pm.

The festival wraps up at 7.30pm with performances by Turkish dervishes Oojami, keyboard and harp duo Fitkin Wall and deep dub vibes from DJ Glyn Bigabush. (£15 plus concessions).

Julian Fellowes added: "I love the fact that this is a local festival, not some huge international thing. It is local people celebrating their own hero and their own town."

For all tickets either turn up at the door or book them in advance from 01305 266926.