Ledbury Amateur Dramatic Society can celebrate another triumph with this adaptation of the classic Thomas Hardy novel.

Of course, Hardy's atmospheric prose wasn't present and the moods had to be set by dialogue, action and a little rustic music.

However, the actors injected pace into the scenes without destroying the steady sweep of the 19th Century plot.

Lisa Peckham was an animated and spirited Bathsheba Everdene and Paul Graham was a suitably solid, loyal and thoughtful Gabriel Oak. Richard Williams was the dashing but dastardly Sergeant Troy.

Peter Orme as Farmer Boldwood presented a more gentile and tortured character to the one in the novel, with his portrayal of a haunted, lonely patrician, on the edge of a nervous collapse. Rachel Williams was a vivacious Liddy and Penny Asquith, as Fanny Robin, managed to tug the heartstrings. Paul Onions as the nervous Joseph Poorgrass also deserves praise, as does Barbara Jones, who played the solid Mrs Hurst.

The lighting was ambitious, varied and skilful, the set was unobtrusive and the 19th Century costumes were well chosen.

The music hung together through the subtle example of Mark Stevenson, who played Jan Coggan in his usual engaging manner.

Gary Bills-Geddes