JRR Tolkien’s play Leaf by Niggle is coming to the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis and the Lyric Theatre in Bridport.

Leaf by Niggle, which will be performed at 7.30pm on Friday November 10 in Lyme Regis and 5pm on Saturday November 11 in Bridport, is a poignant story about an artist on a curious journey.

It is often seen as an allegory of JRR Tolkien’s own creative process and life.

Puppet State Theatre uses intimate storytelling, object animation, music and sound to bring the story to life.

Surrounded by ladders, bicycles, easels and heirlooms, Richard Medrington (Jean from The Man Who Planted Trees) recounts Tolkien’s miniature masterpiece.

Leaf by Niggle is the story of an artist living in a society that does not value art.

Puppet State, who have toured the globe with their show The Man Who Planted Trees, use Tolkien’s words to illustrate Niggle’s world in this delightful piece of storytelling.

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…

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 from Puppet State recounts Tolkien’s

miniature masterpiece, with a soundtrack composed by Karine Polwart and Michael John

McCarthy.

Niki McCretton (owner & director of the Lyric and Stuff & Nonsense Theatre co) saw

Leaf by Niggle at Edinburgh Fringe last summer and it was one of her highlights.

She said: "It's a grown up tale - so for older children 9+ and adults - in a storytelling style but with a lovely set that really takes you on a journey and is very moving and profound."

The Bookshop in Bridport is running a competition with The Lyric for two families to win tickets to Leaf by Niggle!

Complete a word search either in the South Street shop or on their website www.dorsetbooks.com to be in with a chance of winning. The winners will be selected at random from the completed entries.

*Leaf by Niggle, Marine Theatre Lyme Regis, November 10, Lyric Theatre, Bridport, November 11. Call the box office of the Marine Theatre or Bridport Arts Centre for the Lyric performance for tickets.