The Watermill Theatre has announced The Lord of the Rings as their intimate immersive Summer musical.

The Watermill Theatre, Newbury have announced that The Lord of the Rings, a musical tale based on J.R.R. Tolkein's classic trilogy, is to be presented as their epic summer musical running from 25 July to 15 October 2023.

The Lord of the Rings - a musical tale features book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus and music by A.R. Rahman (Bombay Dreams, Slumdog Millionaire), Värttinä and Tony Award winner and Grammy nominated Christopher Nightingale (Matilda the Musical).

With the production set across both the Watermill auditorium and gardens, audiences will be immersed in the magical landscape of Tolkien, joining an ensemble cast and large-scale puppets on an epic journey celebrating the power of friendship and common goodness to conquer unimaginable evil.

As the Hobbits celebrate Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy-first birthday, he gifts his nephew Frodo his inheritance – including his most precious belonging – a gold ring. Little does he know that his legacy will confront Frodo with an immense and impossible task; a perilous journey across the darkest realms of Mordor to foil the Dark Lord’s quest for total dominion.

The Watermill's Artistic Director Paul Hart said, “We are thrilled to be bringing Bag End to Bagnor this summer with one of the most epic stories ever written.  Our production of The Lord of the Rings will take audiences from the lush idyll of the Shire in our gardens to the darkest depths of the Cracks of Doom. You may be wondering how we’re going to fit this huge show in our 200-seat theatre – come and witness the impossible!” Tickets for The Lord of the Rings will go on sale to Friends of The Watermill on 15 March, to Watermill email subscribers on 21 March (sign up here), and on general sale on 22 March, via The Watermill Theatre's website.  Tickets for the performance on 22 September, Bilbo Baggins’ birthday, will include a celebration in the Watermill gardens before the show.