From The Shire to The Great Lakes: Watermill hit production moves across the Atlantic

KUDOS to the Watermill! Paul Hart’s acclaimed production The Lord of The Rings – A Musical Tale is to transfer from The Shire to The Great Lakes.

The Watermill’s artistic director Paul Hart, executive director Claire Murray and the whole team at Bagnor theatre are thrilled to announce their collaboration with Chicago Shakespeare Theater which sees the US premiere this summer at The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater from July 19 – September 1.

The Lord of The Rings – A Musical Tale had its world premiere in Newbury last summer and sold out its 12-week run.

This version, retold from the perspective of the Hobbits, recently won the WhatsOnStage Award for ‘Best Regional Production’, and scooped eight Broadway World Awards, while the theatre itself was joint winner of The Stage’s ‘Theatre of the Year’ for its work in 2023.

The Chicago Production will open the inaugural season of Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s artistic director Ed Hall and executive director Kimberly Motes.

Paul Hart, who directed The Lord of the Rings, said: “We loved welcoming audiences from across the world to the Shire to experience our intimate yet epic production of The Lord of the Rings, and to introduce them to our corner of West Berkshire.

“Now we’re setting off on our own ‘there and back again’ journey to Chicago and we can’t wait to work with the brilliant team at Chicago Shakespeare Theater to recreate the wonder of Middle-earth for new audiences.

As the Hobbits celebrate Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy-first birthday in the Shire, he gifts his nephew Frodo his most precious belonging—a gold ring. This fateful moment launches Frodo on a legendary and perilous quest across Middle-earth to the darkest realms of Mordor to vanquish evil with his loyal Fellowship.

Steward, Brand and Licensing at Middle-earth Enterprises Fredrica Drotos added: “Sharing The Watermill’s wonderful expression of The Lord of the Rings on stage with audiences across the globe beginning this summer, in Chicago, with the US premiere of Paul Hart’s and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s collaborative re-imagining, is a dream come true for all of us at Middle-earth Enterprises.”

Claire Murray said: “We're excited to collaborate with our colleagues at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on the evolution of Paul’s acclaimed production of The Lord of the Rings.

“The Watermill's history of originating productions is well established, however, The Lord of the Rings was one of the first shows we made following the cut to our annual Arts Council funding, making this move across the Atlantic feel all the more extraordinary!”

The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale is based on the classic trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien, with book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus and music by Oscar and BAFTA Award winner A.R. Rahman (Bombay Dreams, Slumdog Millionaire), Värttinä and Tony Award winner and Grammy nominated Christopher Nightingale (Matilda the Musical).

Visit https://tinyurl.com/564xxfa8 to read about a great little fundraiser for the Watermill.