THIS June Helmsley Arts Centre welcomes Hotbuckle Productions’ adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s classic Far From the Madding Crowd on Friday, June 9, at 7.30pm, as well as local theatre company, Me and Thee Theatre with their production of The Barber and Sue on Sunday, June 25, 7.30pm.

Far from the Madding Crowd is perhaps one of the most endearing and English of Hardy's novels. It tells the story of the young farmer Gabriel Oak and his love for and pursuit of the elusive and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene. Her wayward nature however, leads her into the path of the dashing Sergeant Troy ‘…the past was yesterday; never, the day after’ and the introverted and reclusive gentleman farmer, Mr Boldwood, whose love for her fills him with ‘…a fearful sense of exposure’ culminating almost inevitably in both tragedy and true love.

Far From the Madding Crowd follows the spirited, independent Bathsheba Everdene choosing between the three suitors, stressing the questions, will she marry for passion, for obligation or for true love and companionship? This production follows on from Hotbuckle Productions’ successful performance of Emma that has been described by BBC Radio as “perfect theatre with seemingly no effort at all” and Persuasion, which, according to The Stage was “pure theatre magic”, their new adaptation of Hardy’s romance is brought to life in Hotbuckle’s trademark ensemble style.

For those who don’t know, there's a new theatre company based in Ryedale: Me and Thee Theatre are Tabitha Grove, Libby Pearson and Tom Tyson and they are bringing an evening of theatre to the bar at Helmsley Arts Centre on Sunday, June 25.Sue and The Barber question our everyday judgements of situations and those around us. These two short plays, whilst stand-alone, are connected by the theme of trust that people put in one another and the conclusions we’re all guilty of jumping to.

Tickets can be bought online for both events from www.helmsleyarts.co.uk or from the Box Office on 01439 771 700.