[K]irkby Stephen Community Arts invites audiences to an enchanting stage adaptation of a short story by one of the 20th Century’s best-selling authors, JRR Tolkien.
Niggle is a painter. Not a very successful one, partly because he has so many other things to do. For some time he has been obsessed with one particular canvas – a curious picture of a tree with a vast landscape stretching out behind it. The painting keeps getting bigger and bigger, but Niggle has a journey to make. He doesn’t want to go, but he cannot get out of it…
In 1939 Tolkien was despairing of ever bringing his great work The Lord of the Rings to a conclusion. One morning he woke up with Leaf by Niggle complete in his mind and wrote it down.
Leaf by Niggle is lesser known and quite different from many of Tolkien’s other works in that it contains no magic, wizards, elves or dragons. Instead, surrounded by ladders, bicycles and heirlooms, Richard Medrington (Jean from The Man Who Planted Trees) brings Tolkien’s miniature masterpiece to life using intimate storytelling, object animation and a wonderful soundtrack by Karine Polwart and Michael John McCarthy.
In 2006 Scotland’s Puppet State Theatre created the hugely successful ‘The Man Who Planted Trees’ –a monumental hit with both audiences and critics which has toured extensively. Now, a decade later, their long awaited 2nd show, comes to Kirkby Stephen in partnership with Highlights Rural Touring Scheme.
Leaf by Niggle is directed by writer and storyteller, Andy Cannon – who was Creative Director Performance of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony – and is aimed at a broad family audience.
“enchanting one man show’ **** The Guardian
“exquisite … so beautifully told … completely seductive” **** Scotsman.
Leaf by Niggle comes to Kirkby Stephen as part of our Autumn season of live events and community activities. For more information visit www.kirkbystephencommunityarts.co.uk
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Date/ Time: Thursday 28 September 7.30pm
Venue: Kirkby Stephen Sports and Social Club
Tickets: £10 / £7 under 18s
Bookings: Call Kate Lynch on 017683 71885 or online at www.highlightsnorth.co.uk
Suitability: Adult/ family audience 12+
