Thomas Hardy Players actress Norrie Woodhall dies at 105
The last surviving member of a Dorchester theatre group set up by Thomas Hardy has died at the age of 105.
Norrie Woodhall was among a handful of Dorset actors who performed plays based on the author’s works in 1924, rehearsing at Hardy’s home at Max Gate. Later Ms Woodhall became president of the New Hardy Players.
Ms Woodhall’s mother is believed to have inspired the character Tess of the D’Urbervilles. And her sister, Gertrude Bugler who was said to have inherited her mother’s looks, was later given the role of Tess by Hardy.
via BBC News
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
