ADAPTING an epic Hardy novel to the stage is a formidable task and one which director Ali Gorton, of Theatreworks, achieved superbly.

The set perfectly evoked the rural life of 19th Century England, using simple props and subtle sound effects.

Gorton emphasised Hardy’s use of the elements and nature, such as bird song and the majesty of the night sky, to help create the mood of the characters.

Kathryn Ritchie played a superb Tess – innocent, alluring, passionate and disturbed. The rest of the cast doubled up to play many other diverse characters.

Tess Durbeyfield is an innocent young peasant woman whose father discovers they are descendants of noble stock, the D’Urbervilles. In the heroine’s quest for financial and emotional stability, she is raped/seduced, bears an illegitimate child, is spurned by her only love, Angel Clare, due to her “impurity”, marries her seducer out of desperation and eventually murders him when her true love returns.

Although the murderess is hanged, it’s clear that Tess is a victim of Victorian sexual hypocrisy, the cruel laws of the Church and the even crueller hand of fate.

In the penultimate scene, the heroine is laid on the pagan altar at Stonehenge, her total rejection from Christian society being complete.

The play remained true to the original work with folklore, superstition, rituals and legend being central to the plot.

Added to this, Theatreworks’ authentic use of song and dance celebrated the story as a masterpiece of historical fiction.