The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale - Watermill, Newbury

Given Kevin Wallace and Middle Earth Enterprises are involved with this production, I imagine there will be discussions regarding a future life but they would have to make changes.

Both producers were there when I saw it; I would imagine there is potential to scale this production up. Their dilemma is that by removing the actor-musician element that has borne so much success for this revival might undo the intimacy that has been achieved.  My preference would be for the Watermill version to incorporate whatever changes might be required and revived in 2024 with a view to transferring or touring thereafter.

Did anything change in the script? I recall most negative reviews bashing the script and boringness of the show in the west end. And now it’s getting raves scaled down. I thought the epicness and designs were the saving grace last time, but it feels like the piece stands better on its own without them?

I would love to see a grand version like the original once again, but its starting to feel like thats never gonna happen again.

Booked my tickets for September, can't wait! Did anyone go the restaurant and café there, and if so how was it? Looks like there is a few themed dishes which shouldn't get me so excited but it does!

We ate from the cafe. I had hog roast and salads which were delicious and my daughter had chips, which were also done perfectly. Very reasonable prices. You will need to prebook the restaurant. Which I’ve done for my next visit! 

Congratulations to Sioned Saunders who stepped up magnificently to perform the role of Galadriel yesterday as well as fulfilling the role of on-stage MD. Thanks for enabling this magnificent show to go ahead - and after all the rain, it was beautiful and exciting to end the show in a somewhat soggy but rain-free Shire! We beat the weather!!

Thanks for asking - a little bit dry but it was all indoors so I guess it's a bit trickier to manage... the apple sauce was nice! The cast did well yesterday - preferred my preview performance last week.

I'd love to see this come to London, but speculating on what venue it could potentially run at is difficult. The Other Palace would be appropriate for this production, but that would probably mean sacrificing the outdoor sections at the beginning and end. I'd say this is an issue with most London venues, as a part from Regents Park, most venues, to my knowledge, don't have outdoor spaces to perform. Hell, Regents Park itself is outdoors only, so that could potentially mean a major overhaul would be required. 

What set me thinking was this new version is designed to work both externally and internally... so yesterday evening the intro section was indoors cos it was peeing down with rain, but the closing scenes were taken outdoors as the rain had cleared. This production could easily work indoors only - I think it could also work at Regent's Park for a short summer season, though could it fill it? This show seems best suited to an intimate venue despite the epic feel, and could work really well at TOP.

Just to say I don’t know how they work the sound system in the watermill theatre but last time I was there (to see the first half of the suspicions of me whicher) I sat towards the back of the circle for the first time. It was obvious they had micked the stage up for those at the very back

Except the audio they had was distractingly bad. Very dead. So I’m watching the characters speak not far away but listening to them as if they’re speaking through loudspeaker from a sound booth

I hope thets not the sound system they use for all their productions

I've sat at the front and very back for this production. The sound is perfect throughout, though my preference is to be closer to the stage.

Could anybody advise as to the seats in front of the control box? Marked N1 on the seating plan. Are they decent seats with hood views or are they extremely far away?

I saw the show yesterday

The musical director was on again as Galadriel. The show stopped for a few minutes during Moria and it was announced the actress had taken ill. She did a good job and the audience applauded her rapturously

Sitting p22 was a great view. If you can get a seat in the slips you can’t go wrong with it

We were outside for the start but as it rained during the show we stayed inside for the end. The outdoors stuff was fine but you wouldn’t miss anything if this was done indoors

This is certainly the cliff notes version of lord of the rings. The first act is fellowship of the ring and then they smush together the fall of Isengard and the Battle of the Pelennor Fields together

The folksy music is charming and I enjoyed the battle music as much as I remember listening to the original cast recording (wish I saw this at Drury Lane with a full orchestra) but the songs are forgettable. Apart from galadriels songs and chanting here and there. It did make the 3 hour + show feel long.

The balrog was a let down for me. I wasn’t expecting too much but seeing what they did with shelob later (the best set piece of the show) a floating head of the balrog would have been better than what they do here

The highlight performances were Frodo, Sam, Gandalf and Gollum giving his inner Andy Serkis

3.5 stars for me. The efforts of the cast and some of the sets is what carry the show

I am going to see this on the weekend! Any recommendations on where to stand/ sit for the outside part of the show?