Come and enjoy the afternoon with a performance of Thomas Hardy in Words and Music. Thomas Hardy was fascinated with music; again and again it exerts influence over the characters and action in his poems and novels. With the help of a violin (in homage to Hardy's own instrument), Hardy Annuals will immerse us in Hardy's musical world, and explore this fascination through music and readings both serious and comic, tragic and farcical.

After an interval, the programme will conclude with words and music illustrating Christmas in Dorset as witnessed by Thomas Hardy.

The Hardy Annuals consist of Jan Wyld, Dr Richard Hall and Richard Willetts.

Jan Wyld is an actor, wordsmith and piano teacher. Her roles have included Mary Shepherd (Lady in the Van), Susan (Bed Among the Lentils), and the female characters in 'Two', for which she toured the South West and the Isle of Man with Churchill Productions.

Dr Richard Hall studied at Dartington College and the University of Durham. He returned to Dorset where he pursued a varied musical career: teaching at Weymouth College and Bournemouth University as well as the Dorset Rural Music School where he was Director for 18 years. Richard has also been an examiner for the Associated Board, a choral conductor and a chamber musician.

Richard Willetts graduated the Birmingham School of Music in 1967 and was a violinist with the BBC Training Orchestra. He continued his career with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra as sub-principal viola, leaving in 1975 to teach violin for the Dorset Music Service. Richard also established the Cornel Music Group, performing mainly Baroque music, touring the UK and America.