Saturday 21 June 2025, 3:30pm and 7:30pm

‘I shall astonish you all’

Following last summer’s sold out production of Red Sky at Sunrise - Laurie Lee in Words & Music, Hambletts and Orchestra of the Swan return to celebrate Thomas Hardy in his own words, poetry, novels, and the music he loved so much.

Starring acclaimed actor Anton Lesser (Game of Thrones, Wolf Hall, Endeavour), A Beautiful Thread (produced by Hambletts) weaves Hardy’s life – dramatic as any of his books – with his beautiful poetry and great novels, including Far From the Madding Crowd, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, and Jude the Obscure.

Hardy put more music into his work than any other writer, and the Swan’s Artistic Director, David Le Page has devised a musical programme of shimmering beauty – a Mellstock folk band style, that combines West Gallery Music from the village churches of the 1840’s with Holst, Purcell and contemporary folk.

NEWS UPDATE - for an interview with Anton Lesser as he prepares for the show, click here.

Written by Deirdre Shields (Red Sky at Sunrise: Laurie Lee in Words and Music).

Music Director David Le Page
Director Judy Reaves

There will be two performances on 21 June: one starting at 3.30pm and another at 7.30pm.  The show runs for 1 hour 50 minutes plus a 20 minute interval. We have ample free parking at the Garden. You’re welcome to arrive and get comfortable up to 45 minutes prior to the start of the performance.

Tickets for this immersive theatrical experience are £45 per person and can be booked by clicking here. We’re expecting it to be very popular, so don’t delay!

This is an outdoor performance, so please remember the following:

• Bring a chair or picnic blanket to sit on.
• You’re welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy – including your favourite tipple!
• We are looking forward to a warm summer evening, but please dress according to the weather. Bringing blankets for extra warmth might be a good idea!  In case of extreme weather, the performance will be moved indoors to St. Mary’s Church in Painswick. You will receive an email informing you of the change of venue. 
• We recommend wearing strong, sturdy footwear for your visit.
• The Garden is in a valley with some steep and uneven pathways and loose surfaces which may pose challenges for those with mobility issues. We advise against using motorised scooters or wheelchairs. Please call us if you would like any further accessibility information on 01452 813204.