Vanessa Ford tells Su Carroll of the emotional driving force behind her stage production of The Hobbit

PRODUCING The Hobbit for the stage is more than just a labour of love for Vanessa Ford. It's a dramatic gesture to the memory of her late husband.

Vanessa and her husband, writer Glyn Robbins, had worked together on many classical productions, including Shakespeare but were looking for something a bit more commercial to stage.

Vanessa wasn't too keen on pantomime but did want to put on something for families, remembering the exciting theatre outings of her childhood.

"Eventually we got the rights to The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe," recalls Vanessa. "It was quite epic – I like big casts."

Winnie the Pooh and The Wind in the Willows followed and, in 1999, they obtained the rights to adapt The Hobbit. "It was the biggest show I'd ever done," says Vanessa.

"It toured for four years and was in the West End twice. By 2003 I'd had 25 years as a touring producer and I was tired. So I came out of producing and became a theatre manager in Guildford.

"On January 2, 2007 my husband died. I closed the office door and didn't go back for more than two years.

"Then I decided to start producing again. 'Go for it Ford' – that's what Glyn used to say to me – 'start soaring again'.

"There were bittersweet memories, but life goes on. He was a heart transplant patient in 1992 and it gave him an extra 14 years. I think he did some of his best work in that time. He was given a second chance and he used it well."

Glyn's adaptation does not duck out of any aspect of JRR Tolkien's story of The Hobbit.

Bilbo Baggins, a quiet and contented Hobbit, has his life turned upside down when he's chosen by Gandalf to join Thorin Oakenshield, exiled king of the Dwarves, on his quest to reclaim their kingdom and treasure.

The adventurers battle through the Misty Mountains, wind, rain, hail and thunderstorms, narrowly escaping gourmandising trolls, vicious goblins, avaricious wolves and spiteful giant spiders. Finally Bilbo must face the guardian of the treasure, the most feared dragon of all, Smaug.

Vanessa says they have captured all of the different elements of Tolkein's exciting story.

"My most frightening moment is the spider... every time. It's terrifying and enormous. And there's generally a scream from the audience when the dragon appears."

Vanessa cannily chose – against advice from others – to store the original set, allowing her to spend more on the effects on stage, including a new eagle.

She's touring with a large company – "all men!" – and there's lots of fighting as well as some singing and an uplifting hoedown sequence.

She's again enlisted the talents of actor Roy Marsden (Inspector Adam Dalgleish on TV) as director.

"Roy is a wonderful actor. It's hard work but wonderfully funny. The cast instantly bond with him and it's a lovely rehearsal process. I did the majority of the casting and it was enormous fun. We had 1,800 applications. We got them down to 600, then we saw over 250, then got them down to about 50. We did workshops and ended with 13 who are just lovely."

Returning to produce The Hobbit after a gap of 10 years has been a moving experience for Vanessa.

"The bit that makes me cry is the death of Thorin. It's very emotional, especially with my husband gone."

The Hobbit is at the Theatre Royal Plymouth from February 16-21. Box office: 01752 267222.