Theatreworks presents 

Thomas Hardy's

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Thomas Hardy's Tess Of The D' urbervilles lends itself beautifully to  open-air staging and this summer the passionate, page turner will be performed in some of the U.K's  most beautiful gardens as part of, much celebrated, Theatreworks tour of historic properties.

The company producing this epic has gained a national reputation for transferring some of our best loved novels successfully to the stage. It's adaptation of another Hardy classic FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD won great acclaim over five national tours:

“A joy to watch” - Evening Standard.
“A cultural treat” - The Independent.
“A production of exquisite sensitivity” - The Telegraph.

Interwoven with pastoral comedy, dance, music, and paying fine attention to period detail the drama Tess of the D'Urbervilles is rooted in Hardy's atmospheric 'Wessex' and skilfully recreates the story of Tess – a maiden who falls victim to male lust and social hypocrisy. Opening on a glorious spring day, amidst May time merrymaking, the plot begins when young Tess sets out, on her drunken father's behalf, to claim 'kinship' with the aristocratic D'urbervilles. Inexperienced, unworldly Tess is offered work on the D' urberville estate and reluctantly makes her home there, becoming entwined with 'bounder' Alec D'urberville but fate soon moves against the innocent Tess and she begins another journey, along an almost impassible road, thick with brambles, pot-holes, one that eventually leads the dairy maid to the brooding ruins of Stonehenge – symbolic site of pagan sacrifice. 

Bring your picnic cheese and ale and let Theatreworks transport you back to Thomas Hardy's Dorset! The show will continue through all but the most extreme weather conditions. 

SUMMER SEASON 2008 Open-Air Schedule: 

2nd July. Broxbourne Civic Hall Gardens.  5th August. Bolton Abbey.

Tel: 01992 441946 (Tess)                                      Tel: 01756 718009 (LW)        

12th July. Cliveden.                                        6th August. Smallhythe Place.

Tel: 0870 240 4068 (Tess)                             Tel: 0870 240 4068 (LW)

18th July. Ickworth House.   7th August. Athelhampton House.

Tel: 01284 769505 (Tess)                Tel: 01305 848363 (Tess)

19th July. Bacon Theatre.                15th August. Bowhill House.

Tel: 01242 258002 (LW)                               Tel: 01750 22204 (Tess)

23rd July. Kingston Maurward.                   21st August. Powderham Castle.

Tel: 01305 215003 (LW)                               Tel: 01626 890343 (LW)

24th July. Lost Gardens Of Heligan.            22nd August. Kingston Maurward.

Tel: 0872 262466  (Tess)                               Tel: 01305 215003 (Tess)

30th July. Highcliffe Castle.                          24th August. Lytham Hall.

Tel: 01425 278807 (Tess)                              Tel: 01253 736652 (LW)

31st July. Corfe Castle.                                  28th August. Arley Hall.

Tel: 0870 300 0579  (Tess)                                 Tel: 01565 777353 (Tess)

1st August. Trelissick Gardens.                   30th August. Cannon Hall Park.

Tel: 01872 862090 (LW)                                    Tel: 01226 790270 (LW)

2nd August.  Trelissick Gardens.                   4Th & 5th September. Hylands House.

Tel: 01872 862090 (Tess)                                 Tel: 01245 605505 (Tess)