REALTION IN VII TOLK FOLK - BATLLE OF FIVE ARMIES
Among the fans of J.R.R. Tolkien this year's Tolk Folk edition will go down in history because of two reasons. First - so far, it wasn't so rainy during the event, second- so far, the participants of the event weren't so much determined. (All that happened because of Sauron's frogs influence :).
Several months before Tolk Folk - scenario and music base composed by Jacek Wanszewicz were made. Many weeks before the event preparations of the props and costumes started. Then, on the linens sized 7x4m decoration was made by the artists - Basia Śliwińska, Ewa Gajda and Karolina Olszańska.
On 7 July in the evening the event participants enrolled themselves to take part in the staging. At the same time some details of the event were discussed. A Czech interpreter took part during the preparations. He was informing about the activities that were taken by each group of the battle to make it possible to understand each other and to strengthen integration between Polish and Czech groups. On 8 July in the morning, in spite of wet grass because of strong rain during the night, the firsts rehearsals took place. Some of the participants were trying the costumes on, the others were practising how to act and were learning the drill. Those taking part in the final part of the staging kept on asking "When is our turn?"...Can we attack now"? The fight was very hard. It was necessary to make some more machetes for goblins. Although "the director" asked the participants for protecting of the props, some of them didn't hear it because of a big tumult.:):). More rehearsals were planned in the afternoon, but because of a heavy rain it was impossible to do so. Later, in the evening, the Guards of the North began a LARP game. You can get some more information about it on: http://www.wladca.pl/dzialy/3/site/larp_menu.php?
On 10 July at 11 o'clock next rehearsals of the staging took place. Details of the show were discussed. It was unable to make a dress rehearsal because of a heavy rain. Already during the event when everybody hoped for a fine weather, it started raining cats and dogs. More of the people hid themselves under the stage. The staging was hanging by a thread. But when someone asked "What are we going to do"? The answer was short. "LET'S PLAY!!" The group FAUNS seeing what's going on began a concert, first playing under the stage, then on the stage. After the concert the Archery Tournament - Bard's Bow was settled. The main prize of the competition ( a bow and a arrow for the best archer ) was won by Magdalena Urbanik from Krakow. Middle Earth costume competition has to be postponed for Sunday - 11 July because of a rainy weather. Then the Austrian musician and composer named Gandalf appeared on the stage. He presented songs inspired by "The Lord of Rings".
At 10 p.m. the staging of the Battle of Five Armies began. At the foot of Lonely Mountain the Armies of Esgaroth People, Elves, Dain's Dwarves Thorin's Companion, Goblins and Vargs fought. One of the most interesting was the scene showing the fight between Bard and one of Goblins prepared by Anita Veber and Dominika of the Company of the Golden Tree. The scene was rather dangerous because real swords were real and the land was very slippery after the rain. After the show there was some time for photo reporters:). The show was organised by Town Centre of Culture and Arts in Bielawa.
Next day some of the participants were making some preparations to comeback home, the others were finishing the LARP game. Middle Earth Costume Competition had to be cancelled because of bad weather conditions.
The organisers gave the participants of the show T-Shirts with the logo of the staging. When the LARP game finished it started raining and a thunderstorm began. Most of the people took shelter in the tents. LARP's game participants got the prizes that were meant for The Middle Earth Costume Competition.
And that is how this year's edition of Tolk Folk finished. In spite of the heavy rain the atmosphere of the event was very good thanks to Eru and the people of the Middle Earth were strongly united.