Lewis and Tolkien brings legendary authors to life onstage

Joel Cochrane and Duval Lang each play a legendary novelist in Lewis and Toilkien which opens Wednesday at Engineered Air Theatre in Werklund Centre.

A new drama exploring the friendship between two of the most celebrated authors of the 20th century has one very familiar thing for Calgary actor and producer Joel Cochrane: a character he played in a different play.

Lewis and Tolkien, a drama by Dean Batali, explores the friendship between C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia) and J.R. R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings).

Co-produced by Fire Exit and Hit & Myth Productions, the drama opens Oct. 15 and runs through the 26th at Engineered Air Theatre in Werklund Centre.

Set in Oxford in 1963, Lewis and Tolkien offers a glimpse into the world that helped give rise to middle earth, hobbit villages, and Narnia, and how a friendship evolved through fame, war and personal beliefs.

It also marks a return to the role of C.S. Lewis for Cochrane, who played the author to critical acclaim in a Fire Exit and Hit & Myth production of Shadowlands, which was written by a different playwright, William Nicholson.

“The chance to bring the characters of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien to life is a rare and exciting opportunity,” said Cochrane, in a news release.

“We know their work, but what do we know about them?” he added. “What was their relationship really like? Did they influence each other’s work? Did they inspire and challenge each other? What was the nature of their friendship?

“The play Lewis and Tolkien is an extraordinary glimpse into the personal lives of these two literary giants."

Fire Exit executive artistic director Val Lieske said the play is a reminder that people who see the world differently can still get along -- a lesson the world seems to be struggling to learn these days.

“We are losing the ability to truly live in community,” Lieske said, “to see and be seen and to disagree deeply while maintaining respect for each other.

“The story of these two men who laughed and fought and encouraged and critiqued and loved each other imperfectly could not be more relevant for today.

For more information and tickets, go here.