Staging Climate (Eu)Catastrophe
The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale at the Watermill Theatre
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21722372 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Evelyn O’Malley (0000-0003-2168-917X, University of Exeter, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 307-321 |
| Publication date | 2025-07-03 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Green Letters (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1468-8417 • E-ISSN: 2168-1414 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/14688417.2025.2572373 |
| OpenAlex | W4415170157 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 11 |
This article analyses the Watermill Theatre’s 2023 revival of The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale. Directed by Paul Hart, the actor-musician production reimagined Tolkien’s narrative to foreground ecological themes and anti-industrial critique. Attention to staging and design demonstrates how environmental commitments can be embedded in theatrical practice itself, modelling sustainable approaches that resonate beyond the stage. The production culminated in a moment that recalled Tolkien’s notion of ‘eucatastrophe’ (Flieger and Anderson 2008, 75): a sudden turn towards joy that does not erase catastrophe but interrupts it with possibility. Read ecodramaturgically, the performance shows how theatre can both represent ecological concerns and embody them materially. In the context of climate crisis and biodiversity loss, Hart’s production exemplifies how contemporary performance can renew Tolkien’s vision for the twenty-first century, offering fleeting, but vital, experiences of resilience and hope
Climate change · Musical · Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies · Shakespeare, Adaptation, and Literary Criticism · Theatre and Performance Studies
| Highly cited | No |
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