The Lord of the Rings musical to return to UK shores ahead of European tour

Exclusive: The award-winning production of The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale will return to UK shores!

Directed by Paul Hart, the production began life at the Watermill Theatre in England in the summer of 2023, where it received a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Regional Production.

Since then, it has been seen in Chicago in an augmented production, while there are upcoming runs for the show in Auckland, New Zealand next month, as well as Sydney in Australia from next January. Additional Asia/Pacific dates will also follow.

Inspired by the novels by J R R Tolkien, the musical has book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus and music by A R Rahman, Värttinä, and Christopher Nightingale.

This musical adaptation was first performed at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto in 2006, which was followed by a run at the Drury Lane in London’s West End in 2007.

The show will head to Theatre Royal Plymouth from 4 to 11 October 2025 (currently the only UK dates planned), presented with a UK cast and ensemble of 32-players. After its Plymouth run the show will embark on an adventure across Europe, with dates to be revealed.

Producer Kevin Wallace said today: “This production began its journey at the Watermill, 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.”

You can watch our behind-the-scenes feature on the 2023 run here:

Hart continued: “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.”

Casting, creative team and more will be revealed in due course. Tickets for the UK run go on sale to Theatre Royal Plymouth members on 22 October, with general on-sale from 7 November.

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