The Hobbit to premiere in Wellington

[Barliman Butterbur]

24 January 2005

A fresh hunt is underway in New Zealand for hobbits, dwarves, trolls and elves as auditions begin for the stage adaptation of The Hobbit, based on the book by JRR Tolkien.

The world premiere of the stage show will be held on April 16 at Wellington's Westpac St James Theatre, Hobbit Productions announced in a statement today.

The show will also play for a limited season at Auckland's Civic Theatre from the end of April.

Auditions begin this week for the roles of Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins, Thorin and Balin and a cast of dwarves, trolls, elves, goblins and wargs.

Auditions will be held in Auckland on Wednesday and Thursday at the Aotea Centre and in Wellington on Friday at Westpac St James Theatre.

The stage adaptation is produced under license from the Saul Zaentz Company and is a co-production of Australian and New Zealand producers.

The production is slated for an 18-month tour of New Zealand and Australian cities.

Written and directed by Christine Anketell, the production brings to life JRR Tolkien's masterpiece, which is the prelude to the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3165520a1860,00.html

Barley

[Maeglin]

That sounds like it should be good, now I just wish someone would do it in the U.S.

[Barliman Butterbur]

That sounds like it should be good, now I just wish someone would do it in the U.S.

If it's really good, I wouldn't be surprised if they go on a world tour.

Barley

[scotsboyuk]

If it's really good, I wouldn't be surprised if they go on a world tour.

Barley

With much of the world still very much interested in the LOTR films, they would be silly not to.

[Sushi]

Let's just hope this movie does not end up like a big mistake.
Do you think they will make it like the book? Tolkien tells the book as it was supposed to be read for kids (because it was supposed to be a book for kids) - Do you think they will do it the same way in the movie, or more like they did The Lord of the Rings trilogy?

[Barliman Butterbur]

Let's just hope this movie does not end up like a big mistake.
Do you think they will make it like the book? Tolkien tells the book as it was supposed to be read for kids (because it was supposed to be a book for kids) - Do you think they will do it the same way in the movie, or more like they did The Lord of the Rings trilogy?

Hi Sushi,

We're talking about a play that they've put onstage in Wellington, New Zealand. However, there is a thread about Jackson doing a movie of The Hobbit at http://www.thetolkienforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=113 .

Barley

[Sushi]

Hi Sushi,

We're talking about a play that they've put onstage in Wellington, New Zealand. However, there is a thread about Jackson doing a movie of The Hobbit at http://www.thetolkienforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=113 .

Barley
Oh.. Thanks for enlightening me! Well I'm pretty happy with that (the fact that they won't make a movie straight away).

Sushi

[Meselyn]

That should be interesting. I wonder if it'll be made into a movie.

[Hobbit-queen]

Woooooooo! Finally! I can audition for the part of a hobbit! (cause I am one!) I don't live near Wellington.....and not even in NZ. Well, I have high hopes....at least....

[Bergil]

If anyone that reads this is involved w/ The Hobbit movie, contact me, i will play any part, dwarf, hobbit, smaug, elf, barrel, blade of grass, whatever. ;)

[ASLAN THE GREAT]

awsome i can't white for it

[Laivinë]

This is really neat! I would be incredibly excited if I lived in NZ, but there is always hope for a world tour. I never would have dreamed that Tolkien's works would find so many mediums to present themselves. Thanks for the info Barliman. Sure appreciate it. :) Vanya sulie-

[joxy]

Just for the record: a stage production of The Hobbit has toured widely in the UK.

[Laivinë]

I had never heard about that. That's really neat! I wish I lived in the UK, then I could have seen that and The Phantom of the Opera at the Queen's Theater. :rolleyes: If only! Perhaps I'll get to see both when I move there to attend Oxford. ;) I can dare to dream, can't I?

[joxy]

....I could have seen that and The Phantom of the Opera at the Queen's Theater....Perhaps I'll get to see both when I move there to attend Oxford.
Well, Phantom has been going on and on, at a variety of theatres, for ages, so there's every chance it will still be showing somewhere by the time you get to Oxford! The chances that it will be are certainly higher than the chances anyone has of getting to attend Oxford - if you mean of studying at the Oxford University!

[Barliman Butterbur]

Well, Phantom has been going on and on, at a variety of theatres, for ages, so there's every chance it will still be showing somewhere by the time you get to Oxford!

And if not by then, it'll be on DVD for sure! :D

Barley

[Maeglin]

Just found this old thread and decided to dig it up. Any news on the production touring anywhere else besides UK and NZ (like the US, perhaps?) :D