Tolkien Fest to be Renamed

[evadarkness]

Apparently the Tolkien Festival (which runs next week end ) is to be re-named Middle Earth Festival.

The person quoted in the paper claimed this was to make it have a wider appeal. They said that people felt it did not offer enough new and interesting things each year - and they thought by doing this is would allow a wider 'scope' to be explored in the Festival.

Now this whole festival started to celebrate Tolkien and his works - which do feature middle earth - but I always though that was the attraction? So exactly how do they think it needs to be reworked? All singing all dancing Orcs, fun houses shaped like hobbit holes with dragon slides to exit?

Not really sure about this - any thought?

[sleepyowl]

Would be interesting to see what they could do without it being made into a tackfest

[moonsmith]

Interesting!
Would the new festival specifically EXCLUDE "Farmer Giles of Ham" and my favourite short story "Leaf by Niggle" - that one comes sooooooooooooooooooo close to home!

As far as I can tell, neither are stories of Middle Earth, both are by Tolkien [the elder].

Does ANYONE understand the Silmarillion? Let's change the name to the " J R R Tolkien Festival"

[wyrdewood]

I find The Silmarillion requires a lot of mental energy to concentrate on (might have something to do with reading last thing at night). Sadly, I run out half way through and seem to be in a perpetual "ground hog day" whereby I can't get past a certain point. Is it worth the effort or is it just another notch on the "nearly read all of Tolkien" post.

[moonsmith]

I can't help thinking that JRR would have made it more accessible had he lived.
In answer to your question Julian - nope!