Tag: state theatre

The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale Australian cast announced!

The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale will embark on a new journey as this timeless tale unfolds in this critically acclaimed and breathtaking theatrical production, playing Theatre Royal Plymouth from 4 – 11 October 2025. This is an exclusive UK presentation of this award-winning production, with tickets on general sale from Tuesday 22 October.

With a UK cast, the show will return to British audiences at Theatre Royal Plymouth before embarking on a European tour presented by People Entertainment Group, with details to be announced soon.

The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale is performed live by a 32-strong ensemble of actors and actor-musicians.

The original 2023 production, which sold out its 12-week run at The Watermill Theatre, won a WhatsOnStage Award for ‘Best Regional Production’, and scooped eight Broadway World Awards, garnered 4- and 5-star reviews, with critics praising its innovative use of projections, puppetry, and live music. The production has been described as “exhilarating” and “rewarding” for both long-time fans of The Lord of the Rings and newcomers to the story. The following year, having evolved to include an ensemble of 30, The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale had its U.S. premiere at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, where it was hailed as “a must see” and “a visual marvel”. It will play Auckland New Zealand and seasons across Australia from November this year.

Producer Kevin Wallace said, “This production began its journey at The Watermill Theatre, realised by an exceptional creative team led by Paul Hart and, in collaboration with our colleagues at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, they went on to thrill US audiences with the US Premiere at The Yard Theatre in Chicago. Together with Middle-earth Enterprises and GWB Entertainment, we are thrilled to bring it back to the UK, where it will play exclusively at Theatre Royal Plymouth before heading to Europe. It’s been an incredible experience seeing performers from each production make these roles their own, and we look forward to this new chapter, once again with a British company.”

Fredrica Drotos, Steward Brand & Licensing at Middle-earth Enterprises adds that “bringing this production to audiences across the globe has been a privilege and a delight, and now, A Musical Tale embarks on another adventure, touching home in the UK briefly before setting off again with an immensely talented cast and crew, poised to infuse each and every performance across the continent, with a palpable purity of spirit.”

James Mackenzie-Blackman, CEO of Theatre Royal Plymouth said, “We are incredibly proud to be hosting The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale as the exclusive UK venue in 2025. This production has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide, and we are excited to bring it to Plymouth. It’s a truly unique theatrical experience, combining music, storytelling, and a multi-skilled ensemble of performers. We can’t wait to share this production with our audiences before it embarks on its European tour.”

Director Paul Hart says, “To tell this most epic and beloved story onstage, we had to start small and think big. Very much like a Hobbit! What began as an intimate production at The Watermill has grown into something larger than we ever imagined, traveling across continents and captivating audiences with its music and storytelling. It’s been an exhilarating journey, and I am thrilled to bring the show back to the UK before we embark on the European tour. Each night, we create this world anew, and I hope audiences leave feeling a little more like the Hobbits we all have within us—hopeful, wide-eyed, and daring to do the impossible.”

For more information on all worldwide productions, visit www.lotrmusical.com.

 

Based upon the Books by J.R.R. Tolkien. Written and produced under license from Middle-earth Enterprises, LLC (MEE). The Lord of the Rings logo, The Lord of the Rings and the names of characters, events, items and places therein are trademarks or registered trademarks of MEE and are used under license. All rights reserved. ©2024 Kevin Wallace Limited and Middle-earth Enterprises.

 

Following its highly anticipated US premiere at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater “A MUST-SEE SHOW to put on your summer list” – Chicago Stage & Screen, The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale, the stage production based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic trilogy beloved by generations of readers, will make its Australian premiere at the State Theatre Sydney from 7 January 2025.

Longtime fans and newcomers alike will journey to Middle-earth™ in the company of Hobbits, as J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy of books The Lord of the Rings is brought to life on stage by a cast of multi-skilled actor-musicians, in a theatrical event that celebrates community, courage and camaraderie. “Tolkien would have been so proud” – WhatsOnStage

The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale had its initial production at The Watermill Theatre in the United Kingdom, receiving rave reviews with The Guardian proclaiming it ‘The Greatest Show on Middle-earth’ and the Mail on Sunday calling it ‘Something rather wizard”. The production will also play in Auckland, New Zealand, at the end of 2024.

The Australian production arrives following the 70th anniversary of the publication of The Fellowship of the Ring, the first book in The Lord of the Rings trilogy which debuted in 1954.

“The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale is a celebration of storytelling at its finest, most electrifying and enigmatic; and we are so pleased to support this epic adventure as it travels to the magical continent of Australia from its origins in Middle-earth. At the risk of sounding cliché, this truly is, a show you cannot miss, Fredrica Drotos, Steward of MEE, emphatically declared.

“It is time for Australia’s actors and actor-musicians to tell their version of The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale in Paul Hart’s wonderful theatrical production, and we are looking forward to their bringing Middle-earth to audiences at the State Theatre, Sydney”, said Kevin Wallace of Kevin Wallace Productions on behalf of the producers.

As the Hobbits celebrate Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy-first birthday in the Shire, he gifts his nephew Frodo his most precious belonging – a gold ring. This fateful moment launches Frodo on a legendary and perilous quest across Middle-earth to the darkest realms of Mordor, to vanquish evil with his loyal Fellowship. The dynamic folk-inspired score is performed live by the company on stage, weaving together original music with storytelling.

Auditions have already begun in Australia to find the next generation’s iconic roles from the beloved trilogy, including Hobbits Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, Gollum, Galadriel, Gandalf, Arwen and Aragorn.

On behalf of Australian co-producer GWB Entertainment, Torben Brookman said, “This is a production that will delight The Lord of the Rings fans of all ages, whether you are 8 or 80, there is something for everyone in this brilliant telling of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic tale. It is the perfect show for the summer in Sydney and we could not be more delighted to bring the production to Australia.”

The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale features a book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna (Maddie, La Cava) and Matthew Warchus (Groundhog Day) and original music by Academy Award winner A.R. Rahman (Bombay Dreams, Slumdog Millionaire), Finnish folk band Värttinä, and Tony Award winner Christopher Nightingale (Matilda the Musical).

The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale is presented in Australia by Kevin Wallace Productions, GWB Entertainment, Middle-earth Enterprises, Tim McFarlane, KHAM Inc, People Entertainment Group, The Watermill Theatre and Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

 

Based upon the Books by J.R.R. Tolkien. Written and produced under license from Middle-earth Enterprises, LLC (MEE). The Lord of the Rings logo, The Lord of the Rings and the names of characters, events, items and places therein are trademarks or registered trademarks of MEE and are used under license. All rights reserved. ©2024 Kevin Wallace Limited and Middle-earth Enterprises.