Shetland Arts is delighted to announce that it will be showing The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey on its release date, Friday 14th December, in Mareel. In the spirit of the occasion, viewers are also being encouraged to come in Hobbit/LOTR themed costumes for the screening on Friday at 7pm, with prizes being given for the best costume in three age categories: 0-12 years, 13 – 18 years, 19+ years.

Films at Mareel are generally shown a few weeks after their official UK release dates because this is when distributors are willing to be flexible about how many times a film shows each day, allowing five or six films to be shown in a week. With big blockbusters like The Hobbit the distributors insist that the films are shown virtually exclusively on Screen 1 for one, and sometimes two, full weeks in order to get them on the release date, so there has to be a high audience demand in order to secure them.

Head of Development at Shetland Arts, Kathy Hubbard, said: “We’ve been eagerly anticipating this film since Mareel opened. We know it is going to be a huge hit, and will no doubt look incredible on the big screen. We are urging people to buy their tickets asap because it’s sure to be very popular, and also encouraging everyone coming on Friday evening to get dressed up and join in the fun!”

As well as this, Shetland Arts is teaming up with the Anderson High School for a competition encouraging young people to read J.R.R Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Young people can enter the competition by writing a review of the book and submitting to the school librarian. The winner will have their review displayed on Mareel’s website and receive 2 free tickets to the film. More information available from the Anderson High School library.

Tickets for The Hobbit go on sale this Friday, 30th November, at 10am via Shetland Box Office in Mareel and Islesburgh, over the phone on 01595 745 555 and 01595 745 500, and online at www.mareel.org and www.shetlandboxoffice.org

Source: Shetland Arts