A Journey There and Back Again: Lower School Pupils Prepare for ‘The Hobbit’

With just a few days to go, excitement is mounting ahead of this year’s Summer Production, ‘The Hobbit’. Running from Wednesday 17 to Friday 19 June in the Performing Arts Centre, the production promises to be an imaginative and adventurous experience that places the talent, creativity and enthusiasm of Lower School pupils at the centre of the story.

Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s much-loved story, ‘The Hobbit’ follows Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving hobbit whose quiet life in the Shire is interrupted when he is swept into an unexpected journey with Gandalf and a company of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield. Their quest to reclaim a stolen treasure from the dragon Smaug takes them across Middle-earth, where they encounter trolls, goblins, elves, spiders and many moments of danger, courage and discovery.

Following the success of last summer’s production of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’, this year’s choice of production continues the Drama Department’s exploration of ambitious fantasy and adapted literature. While ‘The Hobbit’ is familiar to many through Tolkien’s novel and the later film adaptations, this production offers a particularly theatrical retelling. Rather than simply recreating the book or films, the story has been reimagined as a travelling company of Hobbits using storytelling, song and imagination to bring Bilbo’s adventure to life.

Teacher of Drama and Director, Mr Jak Garrity, said: “Following the success of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’, it felt like a natural step to remain within the world of fantasy and adapted literature. Given the vast scale of ‘The Hobbit’ and its many locations and characters, I was drawn to the idea of reimagining how it could be told theatrically, rather than simply recreating the book or the films. The pupils have embraced this idea with real enthusiasm, energy and creativity, and it has been a joy to see them fully immerse themselves in this fantasy world.”

The production brings together pupils from Years Seven, Eight and Nine, with a large cast and crew contributing both on stage and behind the scenes. Several of the principal roles are shared across different parts of the story, giving more pupils the opportunity to take on major characters and contribute to the telling of Bilbo’s journey. This creative approach has been especially welcomed by the cast, with pupils enjoying the chance to work across Year groups, develop new friendships and take on roles that stretch them as performers.

For those playing Bilbo Baggins, the production has offered the chance to step into one of fantasy literature’s most well-known characters. Across the three pupils sharing the role, there is a clear sense of excitement about guiding audiences through the story, with cast members reflecting on the enjoyment of working with younger and older pupils, discovering new parts of Tolkien’s world and helping to create something special for the audience.

Other lead roles have presented their own challenges and opportunities. Pupils playing Gandalf, Thorin, Gollum, Bard and Smaug have spoken about the enjoyment of developing bold and memorable characters, from the wisdom and presence of Gandalf to the intensity of Gollum and the power of Smaug the Dragon. For some, the production has been a welcome return to the Performing Arts Centre following previous RGS productions, while for others it marks their first major performance at the School.

The rehearsal process has also encouraged many pupils to explore Tolkien’s stories beyond the stage. Some cast members were already fans of ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’, while others have discovered the books and films for the first time through the production. This shared sense of discovery has helped shape the atmosphere of rehearsals, with pupils fully embracing the world of Middle-earth and the imaginative possibilities of bringing it to life through theatre.

Behind the scenes, the production has been a collaborative effort across the Drama Department, technical team, Tech Club, Art and Design Technology Departments and the pupils working as stage crew. Together, they have helped create the world of the Shire and Middle-earth, supporting the cast as they prepare to welcome audiences into Bilbo’s story.

We would be delighted to welcome audiences to the Performing Arts Centre for what promises to be a creative, adventurous and highly entertaining production. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online here.

So find your seat, get comfortable and join us as we journey there… and back again.