The Lord Of The Rings - A Musical Tale: 3 Films In 3 Hours, With Stunning Sets & Mid Songs
The fact that a Lord of the Rings musical even exists is pretty extraordinary, seeing as the legendary fantasy series spans three whole live-action films, with a runtime of roughly 3 to 3.5 hours each. That being said, has The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale done the saga justice? We're not quite sure. What we can say for certain after watching the musical is that it boasts some of the best cast, audience interaction, and stage design and effects ever.
Photo from Daniel Boud
The immersion kicks off the moment you step into Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands. Instead of waiting for the lights to dim, you’re immediately greeted by hobbits mingling in the aisles, inviting you to Bilbo Baggins’ 111th birthday party. From there, the action spills off the stage throughout the show with characters rushing past you, confronting each other in the walkways, encouraging audience members to clap and cheer along, and generally making you feel like you’ve stumbled into a giant live-action roleplay.
Top-tier visuals and stagecraft
Photo from Daniel Boud
Visually, this production is a real treat. Wood-themed sets of the cosy and charming Shire, gorgeous and serene Rivendell, Moria’s dark and abandoned dwarven dwellings, and a truly imposing fortress for Barad-dûr. The strategic use of props and puppets are also a brilliant way to keep the magic alive without leaning on CGI.
Photo from Daniel Boud
However, those who are sensitive to flashing lights may feel a little uncomfortable since these are often used, especially during fight sequences. It's also worth noting that the costumes for supporting characters (especially the elves) are admittedly not very impressive, but we'll give that a free pass, since the films have set the bar absurdly high.
Fantastic hobbits, an awkward fellowship
Photo from Daniel Boud
It's certainly not easy playing a hobbit in this show, especially since the cast was just bursting at the seams with energy whenever they were singing, dancing, or fighting and journeying through the lands.
Rarmian Newton nails Frodo’s quiet determination, Terence Crawford gives Gandalf the gravitas and warmth you’d expect, and Laurence Boxhall’s Gollum is just the right balance of pitiful and terrifying. Jeremi Campese (Merry) and Hannah Buckley (Pippin) notably impress by playing instruments live on stage — cello and violin, no less — sometimes in between action sequences, while in character!
Photo from Daniel Boud
It is a pity that the rest of the fellowship, which includes beloved characters like Rob Mallett as Strider, Rohan Campbell as Boromir, Connor Morel as Gimli and Conor Neylon as Legolas, have very little time to shine, and it does cause their onstage friendship to seem rushed and rather superficial.
With so much to cram into the show, major plot points sometimes whiz by faster than Legolas’ arrows, leaving little time for emotional build-up. Some cast members’ thick, rapid-fire accents also make parts of the dialogue tricky to follow, so if you’ve never set foot in Middle-earth before, you might find yourself a little lost.
The songs? Not so precious
Photo from Daniel Boud
Here comes the biggest bummer of the night for me: unfortunately, most of the musical numbers are rather forgettable. The mix of folk-like ballads and rousing anthems is great for setting the scene, but doesn't seem to do much else musically and can be repetitive at times.
Photo from Daniel Boud
Some standouts include Now And For Always, a tender Frodo-and-Sam duet that tugs at the heartstrings, Arwen's The Song of Hope, and Galadriel's Lothlórien, the latter two showing off Stefanie Caccamo and Jemma Rix’s respective vocal prowesses. But otherwise, I had a hard time remembering any of the melodies post-show.
Verdict
Photo from Daniel Boud
All in all, this musical is an absolute must-see for hardcore fans of The Lord of the Rings series, or anyone who loves high fantasy. If you’re here for an immersive adventure, spectacular visuals, and the thrill of brushing past hobbits and wizards in real life, you’ll have a blast! Just don’t expect the songs to stick in your head the way Howard Shore’s movie score does.
But for those who are looking for a fully fleshed-out take on LOTR, you’ll certainly be missing some beloved moments. For any casual theatregoer who's a complete newbie to the franchise, it may be wise to Google the plot or sit through a YouTube crash course beforehand, just to minimise potential confusion.
The Lord of the Rings - A Musical Tale is playing at Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands till 31 August 2025. You can book tickets via Klook, Marina Bay Sands, or SISTIC.
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