The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale - Newbury / Plymouth

I’m so gutted. My first attempt to see the show was cancelled and it looks like my second attempt tomorrow will be a no go too. Wishing the cast a speedy recovery but am so disappointed :-(

What makes you think tomorrow will be cancelled too - have you called the theatre and been given additional information?  The message clearly states that tonight is cancelled, there is no mention of tomorrow.  The matinee tomorrow is BSL interpreted / captioned, and as there are fewer of such performances, I'd imagine they will be going all out to ensure it goes ahead for the benefit of audience members who benefit from access performances.  Hope you get to see it - it is definitely worth it!

That's good info - thanks.  Oh dear, I do hope they are all okay.  Definitely seems to be a bug doing the rounds.  Problem is, looking at remaining performances, there are nowhere near enough seats left to cover one cancellation, let alone two or three.  I could see them adding a couple of additional matinees or perhaps an extra Sunday performance to cover the loss if there is demand? 

I've felt for a while that it would be lovely for the final performance to be held in the evening... Perhaps they could move the current final performance on Sunday 15th to the evening (along with moving existing ticketholders!) and create a new matinee performance on 15th with those who have suffered cancellations prioritised?

No idea why I'm trying to find solutions - just love this show!

About to head off for the Matinee in the next hour.

E-Mail last night said decision would be made in the morning, will have to take no news as being good news and set off.

Here now, matinee is going ahead.

Wherever it gets a second life, cannot imagine anywhere as beautiful to soak in the pre show atmosphere.

Sitting in the shade by the river, sausage roll and chips, bliss.

I’m hearing it’s a cut show at the matinee? Be interested to hear how it all played out.

Just out of this absolutely spectacular show. Will share some thoughts later but just wanted to say that we thought Tricia Adele Turner was SPECTACULAR. Stepped in to the role of Arwen with four hours’ rehearsal. On book but incredible. Her voice was mind blowing. Feel like we saw something really very special there. Aaron Sidwell also tweeted that Sioned Saunders also rearranged/ rescored parts in the last 24 hours to allow it to happen.

The whole thing was wonderful and feel very lucky and grateful to have seen it given the clear challenges with illness amongst the cast.

I get the impression that the only reason today’s performance could go ahead was thanks to Tricia Adele Turner stepping in last minute. So very grateful that she did.

Apologies, got my drop in the wrong way round, Tricia was excellent if it was being off book you would never have known.

Now at home after a drive to think things through, this production deserves all its plaudits, all the actors were excellent, was especially impressed by Matthew Bugg as Gollum and being centre row C, the spider was particularly scary and Amelia Gabriel as Pippin seemed to be having a ball.

Had forgotten the theatre was air conditioned and after the searing heat of the garden the coolness of the theatre was a blessing.

It definitely deserves a second life, even though I cannot imagine the magic and intimacy of the Watermill on a late warm summer’s day being surpassed.

My only regret was not seeing it earlier in the run as unable to visit again before it closes and would love to have seen it twice.

Apologies, despite three years at drama school and many years of theatregoing, I had no idea that a "cut show" refers to the complement of actors rather than a physical cut to the show! Hence my comment before about a full show with no cuts :-)

Yes, today's show had two covers for Galadriel and Arwen, plus the cover Gandalf was assisting on keys and stage logistics.

I am in awe of this cast and the Watermill as a whole - I've just bought another ticket based on today's effort.

In another life I wish to come back as a member of staff at the Watermill for I'm sure working there is one of the greatest jobs in the world.

I am still coming down from the high of last night. I was one of the ones who loved the London production and adored Watermill’s Amelie (never got to see it there but did catch it 9 times over the tour and London runs) so was sure I’d have a good night! I was worried after Friday’s cancellation but saw so many mixed up shows in Amelie to know that where possible the show will go on!
And didn’t it just! An announcement at the start that Tricia would be covering Arwen (it was lovely going back and seeing a tweet of hers saying she would love to see the show again, I wonder if this weekend counts!! Seeing and being in the show suddenly!!). Seeing 3 cover announcements including one that is obviously freshly printed rather than from a stock fills me with joy anyway but I knew it would be special.
The show starts outside with fun and games and Bilbo’s birthday. We were then ushered inside which worked well except we were end of a row but got there first. The scale is obviously different from Drury Lane but the intimacy added a lot. I’ve had Pirelli did on my shoulder in the pie shop Sweeney Todd and can now add Gollum sitting on my lap momentarily while moving around in the way only he can. I have no idea how they manage all the musical logisitcs but they did! Many more effects and more technology than I expected in the staging too.
Finishing and bows outside was magical too. I don’t want to say too much to avoid spoilers. I could individually review the cast but they were all amazing! Some I’ve seen before, some I would be excited to see again in this or something else.

I really hope this gets another life that captures the magic as well.

At an absolute push some small scale theatre like the Other Palace but the show has been reinvented as a smaller scale affair so it won’t go to the West End I wouldn’t have thought.

The outdoor space added so much I would say it shouldn’t transfer unless they can replicate that.