New Hardy Players to perform Tolpuddle Martyrs play

The production, which had a sold-out run in June, tells the story of the ‘Tolpuddle Martyrs’, the group of agricultural labourers who in 1834 dared to ask landowners for a fair wage.

They were punished for their audacity, arrested under an obscure Act from 1797 pertaining to mutiny, and sentenced to transportation to the other side of the world.

The play, which was written by Miles Malleson and HA Brooks, was commissioned by the TUC and first performed in 1934.

The current iteration has the added power of its final act being performed in Dorchester’s Shire Hall, the room where the men were tried and sentenced almost two centuries ago.

This is the seventh time the directors Tim Laycock and Emma Hill have collaborated, and they have been astounded by the public response to Six Men, which combines live drama with filmed scenes shot locally.

Tim said: “I think the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs is the most important untold story in Dorset and to perform part of the play in the Shire Hall, where their trial actually happened, was so powerful.

“It is wonderful to be asked back to perform the play again - and it is very moving to see that Dorchester Arts and the Shire Hall recognised the value of what we are doing.”

The cast will be well known to theatre goers, as many members have appeared in New Hardy Players productions as well as the 2023 Dorchester community play Spinning the Moon.

Unionist ‘ringleader’ George Loveless and his wife Betsy are played by Rob Sansom and Hannah Trevorrow, and his fellow transportees are brought to life by Maisie Sansom, Eva Staddon, Jonathan White, David Parsons and Zephyrus Staddon.

George and Betsy Loveless played by Rob Sansom and Hannah Trevorrow (Image: New Hardy Players)

Sam Kelly plays the traitor Edward Legg and Rachel Carter is Judge Baron Williams. The Squire and Dr Warren, who led the outraged landowners, are played by Mike Staddon and Tom Marsh.

A special mention must go to Olive Sturge, Maddy Chapman and Ella Trevorrow, who played the Loveless children.

The emotive music is arranged by Alastair Braidwood, and much of it performed by local choir Bread and Roses, led by Penny Levick, who provided the haunting singing and scene changes. The costumes, ranging from the workers’ rags to the grandees’ tailoring were organised by Lou Pugh.

Emma Hill said: “The cast realised straight away that they had a responsibility and duty of care to do their characters justice and they took complete ownership of their roles.

“We have had more questions from the cast about character development than in any other production, because everyone was so determined to play their part in a truly authentic way. Everyone completely immersed themselves.”

Norrie Woodhall, the last remaining member of Thomas Hardy’s original acting troupe, asked that the group be reformed as The New Hardy Players on her 100th birthday in 2005.

Since then the not-for-profit organisation has performed Hardy’s tales, poems and vignettes such as Tea With Mr Hardy, raising thousands of pounds for local charities including Julia’s House and Weldmar hospices.

Trial scene: The judge presides over the trial of the Tolpuddle Six in the room where they were actually tried and sentenced (Image: New Hardy Players)

Without direct Hardy links, Six Men of Dorset is a divergence for the players, but one that may be taken forward.

Emma said: “We were incredibly excited to do this play but also slightly anxious because of what it involved.

“Usually after a play we look back at it and think ‘I would have altered sections’, but with this production there was nothing we would have changed.”

Tim added: “Having performed a true story has opened things up for the Players and because it’s something that really happened, it has an incredible potency.

“The response to the play has been more than we could have hoped for and it shows that people really care about the people involved and their surrounding area.”

Six men of Dorset (The Tolpuddle Play) is at Dorchester Arts at Dorchester Corn Exchange on Saturday, September 21 at 7.30pm and Sunday, September 22 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

Tickets are selling fast and are available from Dorchester Arts on 01302 266926 and dorchesterarts.org.uk