Taking over the Watermill Theatre, The Lord of the Rings is one of the venues most ambitious undertakings to date. Daily Info sat down with the show's producer, Claire Murray, to discuss this exciting production and what audiences can expect from it.
Daily Info: What's The Lord of the Rings all about?
Claire Murray: Set in the many worlds of Middle earth, The Lord of the Rings is a classic tale of the battle between good and evil that celebrates the power of friendship.
When Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, bequeaths his worldly possessions – including a precious gold ring - to his nephew Frodo, he sets him on course for a perilous quest. Frodo and his companions must journey from the safety of The Shire, through Lothlórien and the treacherous heights of Mount Doom to foil the Dark Lord’s quest for total dominion.
DI: What can audiences expect from this musical take on the story?
CM: Audiences can expect to feel like they’re part of a truly magical journey – seeing the world through the eyes of the Hobbits in our immersive environment. Our 20-strong company are hugely talented actor musicians who perform the beautiful score live as part of the action. As we journey from the ‘Shire’ out in The Watermill gardens into the theatre, this company are joined by puppets and projection to bring the extraordinary worlds of Middle Earth to life.
DI: This is a terrifically ambitious show for the Watermill. Are you excited to show this production to audiences?
CM: Enormously. This is our most ambitious show ever. We’re excited because it brings together many elements that epitomise what makes The Watermill so special. We have a reputation for making work that has actor musicianship at its heart – for example, shows such as Amelie which went on to transfer to the West End. Working with these talented artists enables us to bring big musicals to the stage that belie the scale of the theatre. At only 200 seats, our space is intimate, and this scale helps us bring the audience really close to the action. In the case of The Lord of the Rings, this brings an intensity to the story that we think helps to make it all the more exciting!
We’re set on the banks of the River Lambourn amidst the most glorious countryside, neighbouring a nature reserve. For this show we’ve transformed the gardens as well as the theatre and audiences will begin by joining the celebrations for Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy first birthday party out on the back lawn – the heart of The Shire. We’ll have roasted meats and vegetables, homemade pies and quiches to enjoy from our Garden café as well as the traditional restaurant menu. All of this is making use of The Watermill’s greatest assets to create a special experience for audiences.
DI: Tolkien comes with a degree of weight and expectation. How does the production approach a story with such a famous origin?
CM: The musical adaptation is based on the novels and we’ve been delighted to work closely with Sean McKenna who wrote the piece throughout the process of making the show. The Lord of the Rings is a story that holds special significance to so many people and I think the adaptation is very respectful of that. What’s exciting is to be able to share these stories with an audience who might know and love the originals as well as those who are experiencing them for the first time.
DI: What's your favourite part of the musical?
CM: It’s very hard to single out one part – there are so many breathtaking, scary and magical moments in the show. For sheer joy, I think the early scenes when Frodo is joined by his companions, are wonderful. The song and dance numbers for 'The Road Goes On' and 'The Cat and The Moon' are my favourites.
DI: Can you sum the show up in three words?
CM: Magical, epic, adventure
The Lord of the Rings is at the Watermill Theatre from Tuesday 25th July to Sunday 15th October. Tickets can be booked here.