The show starts as soon as you take your seat, with pre-show antics of games like ring toss, photo opportunities with the cast and Hobbits running around in a jovial manner. The immersive aspect of The Lord of the Rings, A Musical Tale, continues throughout the show with characters running through the aisles and appearing from various spots in the theatre.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel was first published 70 years ago and has experienced many iterations including Peter Jackson’s multi-award winning film trilogy which is still one of the highest-grossing film series of all time, earning over $2.9 billion worldwide. It’s a fantastical story of brave Hobbits on a perilous quest to destroy a powerful magical ring and prevent evil from conquering the world of Middle-earth.

Directed by Paul Hart, The Lord of the Rings, A Musical Tale is an adaptation of the classic Tolkien saga, with book and lyrics by award-winning British playwright Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus.

Told from the perspectives of the Hobbits, the musical attempts to squeeze the epic fantasy into a three hour (including 20 minute interval) stage show, while adding multiple songs. If you’ve read Tolkien’s books or seen Peter Jackson’s nine hour film, you’ll know this is a feat. Fans of the story will follow along with no problem. Those new to the adventure might get a little lost.

The strength of this show is in the actors and especially Laurence Boxhall. He’s created a new version of greedy unhinged Gollum with a dash of Smeagel, making you wonder if the character can ever return to being the sweet Hobbit he once was. Incredibly physical, he reeks of desperation as he crawls and contorts his body around the stage. Vocally, he sounds just like Peter Jackson’s Gollum. It’s movie magic and he even sings! Boxhall is an actor on the rise, having appeared in many film, television and theatre roles, including the starring role in 2024 Ensemble Theatre’s Switzerland and currently running Robbie Williams music biopic Better Man, as DJ Sexton.

We also see a strong performance in Rarmian Newton as the endearing Fredo and Wern Mak playing the loyal convincing Sam. Laurence Coy as Bilbo Baggins does a great job expressing the duality of his personalities when he’s in possession of the ring and then later struggling to resist its pull. We also see Rob Mallet (most recently in the role of Elvis Presley in Elvis: A Musical Revolution) well cast as a striking Strider. Credit also needs to go to Jemma Rix as royal elf Galadriel with her beautiful ethereal voice.

Because of the breakneck speed the musical follows, condensing the 1000+ page story, it’s missing depth and development that evokes feelings for the characters. However the music works to address this. Nineteen original songs were composed by Academy Award winner A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire), Finnish folk band Värttinä and Christopher Nightingale. Perhaps most successful is the duet “Now and for Always” sung by Fredo (Rarmian Newton) and Sam (Wern Mak) wistfully recalling their beloved Shire home.  

An extra challenge for the hardworking actors, the ensemble plays the dual role of orchestra with a cast of trained actor musicians on the stage performing (from harps, flutes, violins and cellos). To their credit, this worked and shows the skill of the cast given that they were simultaneously, singing, dancing, acting, and playing instruments.

Anjali Mehra Choreographer and Movement Director and Deputy Director Australia researched old English folk and social dances to identify the buoyant jigs for the Hobbits. She even created a special Hobbit greeting using their feet. It’s a happy hello which directly contrasts to the violence and aggression seen in the Orcs’ as they move, prowling menacingly low to the ground.

Production design leaned into puppetry with Charlie Tymms creating skeleton horse heads (Nazgûls) and a giant spider (Shelob) that is fantastically frightening and sure to scare any children in the audience.

The production is created under license from Middle-earth Enterprises (the owner of exclusive worldwide motion picture and stage rights for The Lord of the Rings).

The Lord of the Rings, A Musical Tale, is a great show for the fans to revisit the characters and story loved in a different way.

3 stars.

The Lord of the Rings, A Musical Tale is playing at State Theatre (Sydney) until 1 February 2025, before continuing on to Perth (19 March – 4 April, Crown Theatre), Melbourne (26 April – 30 May, Comedy Theatre) and Gold Coast (4 – 20 July, Hota Theatre). Followed by Singapore (August, Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands).

For tickets visit The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale