“A rollicking adaptation... this Tess knows how to party ”
“The balancing of exuberance, wry comment and tragedy is writer and director Elske Waite’s greatest success... There’s no need to be apprehensive about the book’s grim reputation. You will love this Tess.”
In this mad-dash response to Thomas Hardy’s Victorian classic ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’, three actresses perform, in full, the heart-stopping tale of Tess - who fights to overcome a harrowing encounter at the hands of her cousin Alec.
This is a pint-in-hand production which throws together live folk music, characters both old and new, and a fiery dash of feminism… Hardy lovers, Hardy haters and Hardy rookies - all are welcome! For whatever you think you know of ‘Tess’, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
Beginning with a 5 star run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019 Tess headed on tour to the pubs and halls of South-West country villages. Complete with immersive cow-milking, enormous strawberries and our original score of live folk music; this is a brazen, loving and vital articulation of a silenced female voice.
Age guideline: 14+ | Discussions and themes of sexual violence
Ondervinden are proud to present this show in collaboration with Gin and Tonic Productions, and with the support of The Thomas Hardy Society.
Tess in the press…
…And what you thought
THE TESS TEAM
Read more about Tess…
Ondervinden Education
Ondervinden is committed to engaging with schools and higher education institutions to enable discussions regarding the themes raised by our productions. For ‘Tess’ we have created a full Education Workpack to supplement our tour. The contents of this Workpack have been designed for students taking their Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers or English AS and A Levels (or equivalent). The Workpack can be downloaded here.
If you are a student or teacher of a school in the South West and would like to enquire about schools group ticket discounts for our ‘Tess’ tour, or to enquire about booking ‘Tess’ to perform in your school, please email contact@ondervinden.com.