Middle-earth Weekend 2009

Tenth Anniversary Weekend

16th and 17th May

Organisers of the above annual weekend in Birmingham ask you to pencil in next year’s date for the Tenth Anniversary Weekend. This event will take place, as usual, within The Shire Country Park in Hall Green near to Sarehole Mill, and the home that Tolkien loved as a child.

                        ‘Exploring Middle-earth’

is the theme for the weekend around which events and attractions will be based. For example there will be a mobile ‘Cirith Ungol’ climbing wall for all ages to attempt and visitors are gently encouraged to attend in costumes reflecting the many cultures of Tolkien’s Middle-earth.  There will be a costume parade on each day with prizes for the best adult and junior costume.  We hope visitors will gently absorb the information on offer about the geography of Tolkien’s Middle-earth, and there will be the usual attractions of music, drama and traditional craftsmanship for fans and new visitors alike to enjoy.

The weekend is an event suitable for fans of Tolkien's stories, for children and their families and anyone who enjoys a festival with an 'old-fashioned' feel about it.  Literature, music and drama can be enjoyed as well as plenty of hands-on activities.

The Tolkien Tent has information for fans and those interested in the history of the area in which Tolkien spent his childhood years.   The Craft Tent has home made crafts for sale for souvenirs or gifts and the Activity Tent hosts a variety of workshops for all ages.  Rangers will be on hand to inform visitors about The Shire Country Park.

2008
17th and 18th May

Saturday 17th May was wet throughout but visitors kept coming.  Sunday the 18th May was lovely and visitors came in even greater numbers until the field was abuzz with activity.  A constant flow of families visited Sarehole Recreation Ground, in Cole Bank Road, Hall Green, Birmingham for this popular event, (quoted in the press as 'legendary' and now in its ninth year).  Quotes overheard from young visitors included 'This is the best day of my life',  (he was very young!) and 'next year I am going to enter the costume parade'.    Over this weekend of Myths and Monsters, we presented a huge range of events - plays and puppetry, music, storytelling, woodland guided walks, craft demonstrators and workshops.

Shire Productions presented ‘Beowulf in the Bog’, dragons prowled the field and birds of prey flew overhead. Viking re-enactors, flint knappers and a rope historian were on hand to inform and entertain.Visitors in costume were invited to join the costume parade.

Follow the link for details about the history of this event.

The Meaning of Middle-earth

Middle-earth is used by Tolkien to desribe 'the world of men' in the  imaginary world of his books.   However, Tolkien believed that in order to create imaginary lands and stories,   they must have their roots in reality.  In an interview he once stated, 'If you really want to know  know what Middle-earth is based on, it's my wonder and delight in the Earth as it is, particularly the natural earth'.  Tolkien's love of the Icelandic myths and the legends of the North meant he was very familiar with the expression as described below.

Miðgarðr is a name used in Old Norse literature.   In Old English epic poetry it appears as Middangeard, later evolving as Middellaerd or Middle Earth in Middle English literature.  it is a realm in Norse mythology somewhere in the middle of Yggdrasil, the world tree that links the realms of existence. 

The tree of Yggdrasil had its roots extending below our realm of existence into the underworld.  This was the third level - Hel, the world of the dead. The trunk grew through our world, the second level - the world of men, known as middle earth.The trees branches extended high above ours into the upperworld, the first level - Asgard the world of the gods.

As a warning for our times maybe, according to the ancient tales, middle earth will be destroyed at Ragnarok, the battle at the end of the world.  Jormungadnr the giant serpent will rise from the ocean, poisoning the land and sea with his venom and causing the sea to rear up and lash against the land causing middle earth to sink below the waves.

If you have any questions or want further information about Shire Productions, email enquiries@shireproductions.co.uk