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. Read more …
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 the story Leaf by Niggle complete in his mind and wrote it down. This poignant story, about an artist on a curious journey, is often seen as an allegory of the writer’s own creative process and life. Surrounded by ladders, bicycles, easels and heirlooms, Richard Medrington (Jean from The Man Who Planted Trees) recounts Tolkien’s miniature masterpiece, with music specially composed by Karine Polwart.
At only 75 minutes, a prospective audience might expect this performance to seem rather slight, however, in this case, Richard Medrington makes us realise that less can definitely be more.
A particularly enjoyable watch for those with an interest in the life and works of Tolkien, but also offers much for the philosophically, creatively or spiritually minded.
As with all good short stories, this one expands in the imagination. Mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow, indeed.
Medrington doesn’t tie it up neatly for us, leaving the audience to not only question Tolkien’s story, but what might lie in our own family history.
For those of us who do not carry a torch for Tolkien, it’s a mysterious, though well-done, ramble.
The Hobbit author escaped Middle Earth to write a fairy tale about an amateur painter, portrayed by Richard Medrington in this mysterious solo piece.
Theatre Preview: Leaf By Niggle
On Tour, from Thursday April 14, 2016, until Friday June 10, 2016.
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