AsOne presents SHE OPENED THE DOOR

South Dorset Award winning As One Theatre is a professional touring company with a great track record specialising in new stories about local people/issues with music and projected image.

AsOne Theatre presents, for the Bournemouth Literary Festival 2010 in aid of The Variety Club GB (the children’s charity),

SHE OPENED THE DOOR

The Wife, the Mother, the Other Woman, and the Ruined Maid

A powder keg ready to blow in the world of Thomas Hardy!

‘…A play that is almost certain to become a theatrical treasure in the future.’ (Marion Cox - Dorset Echo)

The Royal Bath Hotel, the De Vere Suite,

Sunday 24^th October, 2.30 pm

Tickets £12 / £8 students: Tel: 01305 835541

AsOne Theatre’s latest production is a new play ‘She Opened the Door’ by our commissioned playwright Peter J Cooper. This wonderful piece of theatre takes a fresh look at the women surrounding Thomas Hardy at the height of his celebrity in 1895 with the author’s first wife Emma at its heart. It takes place early autumn, in the garden of their home at Max Gate, Dorchester.

Hardy’s possessive mother Jemima comes to visit for a first and only time and Mrs Florence Henniker who has written a novel with Hardy arrives on the new fangled bicycle, add a feisty (ruined) house maid, some skeletons and a ghost or two to Emma’s already tangled nerves and you have a powder keg ready to blow! With music and songs by renowned composer Roderick Skeaping, and design by the talented Annette Sumption - AsOne promises an evening of quality and surprise; a clever combination of exciting - performance, writing, costume design, music and projected-image. Be prepared to be touched, laugh and learn something new.

Past reviews:

“The audience’s generosity reflected the warm glow left behind by the company.”  (The Stage Newspaper)

“I thought the play was BRILLIANT; amazing performances; all very powerful, and yet subtle. Some memorable moments that will stay with me.

GREAT night out, may even try and make it to one more!”   (Richard Mack – Audience member)

“This play is an exciting take on Hardy’s women; the playwright has very cleverly interwoven the real and fictional women of Hardy’s life and

work. I am sure the audience tonight will spread the word like world-fire.” (Mike Nixon - Thomas Hardy Society Secretary)