An intersectional exploration and celebration of Tolkien's Middle Earth.
Suilaid, Tolkienites, and welcome to the Tolkien track. In this celebration of Middle Earth, we’ll be reclaiming the works of the Grandpa[triarch] of fantasy , discussing fanfiction, headcanons, and adaptations that broaden the borders of a cisgender, heterosexual, white men’s space, and make the fantasy world of Tolkien into a world that is inclusive and diverse. If you ever struggled to find yourself in the Fellowship, if you ever dreamed of queer hobbits, Elves of colour, women dwarves, and non-binary Ents, this is the track for you. All in Connaught B.
Friday
Fellowship of Fans: expanding Tolkien's universe to a diverse fellowship - 10.00am - 11.15am
It’s clear from the first chapter of The Hobbit that Middle Earth is a magical place to be – as long as you’re white, male, straight, cis, and able-bodied. Without a doubt, Tolkien’s universe is an exclusive and small-minded place, but can a fellowship of fans expand that universe, making it welcoming to those of us who can’t find ourselves in the original series? Come and join our diverse range of panellists as we discuss the power of adaptation, fanfiction, and headcanon in Tolkien’s universe.
Panel: Hamish Steele, Georgey Collier, Jade Fernandez, Quen Took
Saturday
Beginning The Legendary Tales - 5.00pm - 6.15pm
Part discussion and part creative collaboration, this will be the one writing workshop to rule them all. After a round-table discussion of narrative and unscored poetic, we will devise our cast of characters – be they Elves of colour, queer orcs, non-binary dwarves, or a fantastical combination of the three – and expand the Tolkien universe by writing our own very own Middle Earth ballad for a modern age.
Workshop with Quen Took
Sunday
Reading The Hobbit: storytelling - 3.15pm - 4.30pm
We all remember the first time we read The Hobbit, but we bet you’ve never read it like this. Cuddle up and join our round-robin bedtime story session, as we choose our favourite passages and wind down at the end of an exciting weekend.
Workshop with Quen Took