Hobbits Ring Some Changes at Drury Lane???

Due to the epic scale of The Lord of the Rings, which opens at the historic Theatre Royal Drury Lane in June 2007 (See News, 23 Jun 2006), producers have applied to English Heritage to remove some of the original hydraulic elevators from under the stage so that the set can “sit in the optimum position on the stage”. If granted permission, the elements would be reassembled exactly as they are once the production closes at the Grade I-listed building. The musical, adapted from the JRR Tolkien trilogy, will open at the Lane regardless of the outcome - albeit further upstage if the application is unsuccessful. Producer Kevin Wallace told Whatsonstage.com: “We are making an application to English Heritage so we can place the set in the optimum position at Drury Lane with the best possible relationship to the audience. This will involve dismantling some of the sub-stage elements which we would then reinstate after the show leaves Drury Lane. There is a meeting this week between English Heritage, Really Useful Theatres and the creative team, and we have been told it could take up to 18 weeks for the outcome to be decided.” The Lord of the Rings has a book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus (who also directs), and music by Bombay Dreams’ AR Rahman and Finnish folk group Värttinä with Christopher Nightingale.

Got some goss? Contact gossip@whatsonstage.com

Related Content