My Precious: New Lord of the Rings musical is ‘immersive yet intimate’
This production is a reworked version of the previous musical, which was first seen in Toronto in 2006 ahead of a West End premiere the following year
By Pooja ShrivastavaSep 22, 2023
A NEW musical production of The Lord of the Rings is “completely opposite” to the otherwise “humongous” adaptations of JRR Tolkien’s classic trilogy, a cast member has said, describing it as a more intimate, yet intense piece of work.
Featuring music by India’s Oscar and Bafta award-winner AR Rahman, Värttinä and Tony Award winner and Grammy nominated Christopher Nightingale, The Lord of the Rings is currently running at Newbury’s Watermill Theatre.
This production is a reworked version of the previous musical, which was first seen in Toronto in 2006 ahead of a West End premiere the following year.
The Watermill’s version is the classic tale of a group of hobbits who attempt to destroy a piece of malevolent jewellery.
With the musical set across both the auditorium and the gardens, it is claimed to be an immersive experience and one of the Watermill’s most ambitious projects yet.
Speaking to Eastern Eye, actor and musician Nuwan Hugh Perera explained why this version stands apart from the earlier experiences of a tale so large and well-known.
“We have gone completely opposite in terms of earlier versions, as ours is a small and intimate production, yet very intense. We have incorporated semi-immersive bits in the beginning and towards the end. We start outside where the audience can interact with characters a bit more closely – so much so they feel they are sort of in the Shire,” said Hugh Perera, 32.
In the piece, directed by Paul Hart and designed by Simon Kenny with musical supervision and orchestrations by Mark Aspinall, audiences follow the story across the venue’s auditorium and garden to join an ensemble cast and large-scale puppets.
“Mark Aspinall has taken what AR Rahman, Värttinä and Nightingale have written for 20 active users. So, it is a bit different, even though the basic foundation is the same,” said Hugh Perera, who plays the role of Samwise Gamgee, the loyal companion of the protagonist, Frodo.
“Everything is intense and the audience feels everything a bit more closely. It’s so heartfelt, because everything is just there in a close intimate space. It is like an epic gone into like something tight and yet it packs a good punch.”
The play has been running since late July. Apart from being an immersive experience, it is also described as a musical journey, where the score pushes the plot forward.
Hugh Perera said, “The audiences here have been blown away with the production. It is an incredible score. It’s so epic and cinematic, unlike any other musical.
“Since it is so much entwined with the plot here – the hobbits just sing and dance while they travel on the road – it is the music that pushes the plot forward. There is something really magical about this music, and it really brings the story to life.”
The actor revealed he was a fan of Rahman since he was a child, and now singing his composition made him feel grateful for the experience. Since he had not read the book, he did research to understand the nitty-gritty of the plot as well as his role.
Nuwan Hugh Perera
“Thankfully, there is such a massive fan base of this character as well as this epic that there are a ton of resources online, especially on YouTube, where people have created these video essays. I was able to quickly learn stuff through them,” he said.
Actor Sean Astin’s portrayal of Sam in director Peter Jackson’s Hollywood adaptation of The Lord of the Rings also influenced Hugh Perera.
He said, “I think the films (trilogy) are incredibly well made. I haven’t watched them fully, but just the clips here and there. Astin is such an under-rated performer – though my portrayal of Sam is very different.
“I’ve taken the best bits of Astin as a sort of legacy and applied it to my own version. I can say I haven’t been influenced absolutely – it’s given me a bit of something.”
The rest of the cast includes Folarin Akinmade, Matthew Bugg, Reece Causton, Kelly Coughlin, Geraint Downing, Peter Dukes, Amelia Gabriel, Tom Giles, Charlotte Grayson, Bridget Lappin, Georgia Louise, Elliot Mackenzie, Peter Marinker, Louis Maskell, Aoife O’Dea, John O’Mahony, Yazdan Qafouri, Sioned Saunders and Aaron Sidwell.
Hugh Perera said adapting the epic scale of the story to a small, confined space was challenging. “I think music shows are always challenging, because not only are you acting or dancing or singing, but you must also make sure everyone vibes together. And that takes a long time, to bring out the musical chemistry on stage. It’s quite difficult and takes a lot of time.
“It was challenging, but that made it all the more magical when we got it all right”.
Born and raised in Sri Lanka, Hugh Perera moved to the UK at the age of 19. His mother and sister were already settled here, and it was his mother who told him to pursue a musical theatre course.
“I auditioned for one, got in and then the rest sort of just followed. I did a lot of singing at home as a child and was in the school choir, but never ever did I imagine myself as a professional actor,” he said.
After debuting in Amelie, Hugh Perera was also seen in Lolita Chakrabarti’s stage adaptation of Yann Martel’s award-winning novel Life of Pi in the lead role of Pi Patel.
To be able to portray a south Asian lead in the West End play was “incredible”, he said, “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.
“I learned so much from that play. It was just a rollercoaster in terms of everything, being emotionally and physically exhausting. I did it for 15 months, so it was a long stretch,” Hugh Perera explained.
“It (Life of Pi) gave me a chance to learn a lot about myself on how to do a lot of things and how to work in a company as a lead.”
Music has been close to his heart since his childhood, Hugh Perera said, recalling how back in Sri Lanka, his father once bought a piano with the money that was otherwise supposed to go into the completion of their house.
The actor is also part of Sleep Walking Animals, a six-member musical band born in Manchester. One of their singles is expected to be out soon.
Hugh Perera recalled singing Sanuka Wickramasinghe’s Anagathaye at the Commonwealth Day Service in March this year – which was attended by King Charles – as one of the best moments of his life.
“It was incredibly emotional, for many reasons. First, I got the chance to represent my country at such a level. I remember just before the start of the performance, I was about to cry, and I just had to hold it in. With all that was happening in Sri Lanka at the time, everyone was incredibly emotional at home.”
The lyrics of the song are relevant, as they speak about the past as much as they do about the future, what Sri Lanka had been through and how it rebuilt itself and never gave up, Hugh Perera added.
The musical production, The Lord of the Rings, is at the Watermill Theatre until October 15.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas says she’s just getting started in Hollywood.
Stars as a fierce MI6 agent alongside Idris Elba and John Cena.
Gets into serious action mode with explosions, helicopters, and hand-to-hand combat.
Says her journey is still evolving, with much more to explore in the West.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas may have ruled Bollywood for over two decades, but the global star believes she’s still “nascent” in her Hollywood journey, and that’s what makes it exciting.
The Quantico and Citadel actor stars in the new Amazon Prime Video film Heads of State, playing a sharp MI6 agent named Noel Bisset. Her character has a complicated history with British Prime Minister Sam Clarke (played by Idris Elba) and is tasked with protecting him and the newly elected US President Will Derringer (John Cena) when they're attacked before a major NATO conference.
Priyanka Chopra calls herself nascent in Hollywood as 'Heads of State' streams on Prime VideoGetty Images
In a chat with PTI, Priyanka said she’s proud of her Indian film career and now wants to build an equally diverse portfolio in the West.
“It’s constant evolution for sure. I would’ve never imagined in 2002, when I did my first movie, that I’d be here today,” she said. “I feel like I’m really nascent in my work in the West. I have a major filmography in India, across genres and with amazing filmmakers. I want to build on that in English-language work too. There’s a lot more to do and explore, and I’m excited to see what unfolds.”
Over the years, Priyanka has taken on major Hollywood roles in Baywatch, The Matrix Resurrections, Love Again, and, of course, her breakout lead role in Quantico.
With Heads of State, directed by Ilya Naishuller, she says she had a blast, literally. From gun battles and hand-to-hand fights to explosive helicopter sequences, the film puts her action skills to the test once again.
“I want to be proud of the work I do. I try to choose characters with agency, not just ornamental roles,” she said. “This was a fun movie to do, and I’m really proud of what I did with this character.”
Priyanka Chopra wants to build her English film portfolio after Bollywood successGetty Images
The action-heavy film gave her the chance to collaborate with WWE legend-turned-actor John Cena for the first time, even though they started their careers around the same time in the early 2000s.
“I’ve known of John since his WWE days. He’s so popular in India; it’s hard not to know him,” she laughed. “When he transitioned to movies, I found his choice of roles really interesting. So I was very excited to work with him.”
Priyanka added that Cena is just as funny off-screen as he is on it, something that made their scenes easier and more spontaneous.
“He’s got great comedic timing even in real life. That helps a lot, especially when you're improvising on set.”
Talking about the film’s high-octane stunts, Priyanka gave full credit to the crew.
“Actors are only as good as the teams around us, especially in a movie like this. We had an incredible stunt team and a visionary director who storyboarded nearly every shot. He knew exactly how high a helicopter needed to be or how big an explosion should look. When you’re surrounded by such a solid technical team, you feel confident and capable, no matter which country you’re filming in.”
Ilya Naishuller, Priyanka Chopra and John Cena attend the special screening for "Head of State" Getty Images
The ensemble cast also includes Paddy Considine, Stephen Root, Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid, and Sarah Niles. The film is produced by Peter Safran and John Rickard.
As she continues balancing work across continents, Priyanka Chopra says one thing remains unchanged: her drive to grow.
“Success is constant evolution,” she said. “And I feel like I’m just getting started out here.”
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Arijit Singh becomes most followed musician on Spotify
• Arijit Singh makes global music history with 151 million Spotify followers
• Surpasses Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran in follower count
• Still trails in monthly listeners with 47.4 million vs. The Weeknd's 112.2 million
• Other Indians in top 25 include A R Rahman, Pritam, and Neha Kakkar
Indian playback sensation Arijit Singh has achieved a record-breaking milestone by becoming the most followed artist on Spotify, beating global icons Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran in the process. With a staggering 151 million followers, the Tum Hi Ho singer now tops the list of most followed musicians on the streaming giant, according to updated rankings released by data tracking platforms Chartmasters and Volt.fm earlier this week.
Swift, one of the world’s top pop stars, holds second place with 139.6 million followers, while Ed Sheeran, who recently released an India-inspired track titled Sapphire, follows at number three with 121 million.
Although Singh leads in follower count, the monthly listener figures tell a different story. Arijit clocks in at 47.4 million monthly listeners. In comparison, The Weeknd leads with 112.2 million, followed by Ed Sheeran (98.4 million), Billie Eilish (95.1 million), and Taylor Swift (82.3 million).
This difference highlights a key distinction: followers represent loyal fans who want updates on future releases, while listeners are users who stream the artist’s songs during a given period, often influenced by recent trends or viral hits.
Arijit Singh clicked during a performance Getty Images
Indians on the global Spotify map
Arijit isn’t the only Indian name on the coveted list. A R Rahman sits at No. 14 with 65.6 million followers, Pritam is 21st with 53.4 million, and Neha Kakkar holds the 25th spot at 48.5 million. Legendary icons from the golden era of Indian music also feature Lata Mangeshkar at the 100th rank (22 million followers) and Kishore Kumar is 144th (16 million), proving their enduring legacy across generations.
From reality show to stadium shows
Arijit Singh’s journey is a modern-day music fairy tale. The 38-year-old first appeared on the TV reality show Fame Gurukul in 2005. But it wasn’t until 2013 that he truly arrived, thanks to the soulful blockbuster Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2, which turned him into an overnight star. Since then, he’s been the go-to voice for every mood: heartbreak (Channa Mereya), longing (Raabta), celebration (Kesariya), and everything in between (Phir Le Aaya Dil, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil).
Now, Arijit is taking his voice global once again with a major live concert at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, solidifying his place not just as India’s favourite singer, but a global music force to reckon with.
GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE is now investigating more than 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects, following years of public criticism and institutional failings in tackling child sexual exploitation.
A new report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has revealed the force has made “significant improvements” in dealing with group-based sexual abuse and related crimes.
According to the 76-page report, GMP is handling ongoing investigations involving 714 identified victims and 1,099 suspects. These are described as “multi-victim, multi-offender” cases, reflecting the complex and organised nature of many of the crimes under investigation.
Michelle Skeer, HM Inspector of Constabulary, said that since 2019, GMP has taken steps to improve how it handles both historic and ongoing abuse cases. “It is clear that the force has, for many years, been trying to provide a better service to those who have or may have experienced sexual exploitation,” she said. “But for some, trust and confidence in the police had been lost.”
The report praised the leadership of chief constable Sir Stephen Watson and his team, noting a cultural shift within the force. Senior officers have made child protection a top priority, personally engaging with staff to reinforce its importance. “Investigating child sexual exploitation is now considered everyone’s business,” the report stated.
GMP is the only police force in the UK with a dedicated Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigation Team (CSE MIT), formed in 2021.
The unit has around 100 staff and a ring-fenced budget. It applies the same specialist tactics used for tackling serious organised crime, which has already resulted in 42 convictions and over 430 years of prison sentences for offenders.
According to the report, the delay in sharing crucial data from local councils, particularly Manchester City Council, which was criticised for submitting evidence so heavily redacted that some pages contained only a few words.
These delays have hindered investigations such as Operations Green Jacket and Bernese—cases linked to historic abuse in South Manchester, including the death of 15-year-old Victoria Agoglia in 2003.
Manchester City Council said legal restrictions around personal data sharing led to redactions, but it has since introduced a new evidence-sharing process with police, allowing investigators remote access to unredacted documents.
Sir Stephen acknowledged past failures and issued a renewed apology. “I am sorry that when you needed us, we were not there for you,” he said. “To those who are responsible for these repugnant crimes – as is now very apparent – we will pursue you relentlessly.”
A report by Baroness Louise Casey previously found a significant over-representation of Asian men among child sexual abuse suspects in Greater Manchester. While this remains a sensitive issue, Sir Stephen noted it was a “legitimate question” that could be addressed in a future national inquiry.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who commissioned the review, said he was “confident” the system is now in a stronger place. “Never again will any child here be labelled or dismissed when they come forward to report concerns,” he said. Burnham added that the reforms had sparked a “widespread culture change” across police, councils, and care services.
A separate Ofsted report backed these findings, acknowledging "much good practice" but calling for continued vigilance, especially in how agencies respond to missing children and those at risk of exploitation as they approach adulthood.
The Crown Prosecution Service has been approached for a comment.
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This year’s Diwali event will still see Belgrave Road continue to host what is left of the festival. (Representational image)
THIS year’s annual Diwali celebrations will be stripped back amid public safety fears. Leicester City Council has said there will be no fireworks or stage entertainment as part of major changes announced for the event.
Cossington Street Recreation Ground will also not be used for the festivities, the council has revealed. The green space previously was the location for the main stage and the Diwali Village with its food stalls, funfair rides, fashion and arts. The annual fire garden display was also based there, offering “a peaceful oasis amid the festive excitement”.
The council says major changes are needed to avoid the “potentially dangerous”, “massive” crowds that gather each year for the Hindu festival of light. The celebrations, widely considered to be the largest outside of India, have been branded a “victim of their own success” by the authority.
The changes have been announced after “serious concerns” about public safety were raised by the Diwali safety advisory group, the council said. It claimed the current set-up was branded “no longer fit for purpose” and that “urgent action” needed to be taken. “Several meetings” have since been held to consider options, the authority added.
These included potentially relocating the event to Abbey Park or Leicester city centre. However, the decision was made, following engagement with Belgrave businesses, to keep the celebrations in their historic home.
This year’s Diwali event will still see Belgrave Road continue to host what is left of the festival. More than 6,000 lights will be installed along the Golden Mile and the Wheel of Light will also return this year, the council added.
Assistant city mayor for culture Vi Dempster said: “Unfortunately, Leicester’s annual Diwali festival has become a victim of its own success. We’re being strongly advised by our emergency service partners and crowd control experts that it cannot continue safely in its current format due to the unrestricted and growing crowd numbers that it attracts, and that’s a warning we must take extremely seriously.
“We are absolutely determined that Diwali continues to be part of the city’s festive calendar. We also understand the depth of feeling to see it continue on the Golden Mile where it began over 40 years ago. To do that, we must ensure that it can take place safely. That must be paramount.”
The major changes follow a stripped-back celebration last year after the council decided to cancel the annual light switch-on due to financial difficulties, focusing on just the Diwali Day celebrations itself. The authority said at the time that costs for staging the dual events had skyrocketed from £189,000 in 2018 to a staggering £250,000 in 2023.
Graham Callister, the city council’s head of festivals, events and cultural policy, said: “Diwali has been a real highlight of the city’s festival calendar and attracts thousands of people who come from far and wide to join in the celebrations on the Golden Mile. However, we are now being advised by our emergency service partners and event security providers that we have reached the point where the growing crowds and sheer volume of people attending is causing significant concern about public safety.
“Scaling back on event infrastructure and activity means there will be the additional space needed – and more importantly less congestion – to safely welcome the crowds that want to celebrate on Belgrave Road.”
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Liam Gallagher arrives for the special screening of Oasis documentary "Supersonic"
Liam Gallagher issued an apology after using a racial slur in a now-deleted social media post.
The offensive post appeared just days before Oasis kicked off their reunion tour in Cardiff.
Fans criticised the singer on X, prompting him to clarify it was unintentional.
Oasis will perform over 40 shows globally, starting 5 July in Wales.
Liam Gallagher has apologised for using a racial slur in a post on X, as Oasis reunites for their first tour in 15 years. The singer shared a one-word reply on Monday that included a derogatory term aimed at East Asian people. Though he quickly deleted it, screenshots circulated online, sparking widespread criticism.
In a follow-up post on Tuesday, Gallagher wrote: “Sorry if I offended anyone with my tweet before it wasn’t intentional you know I love you all and I do not discriminate. Peace and love LG x.”
Liam Gallagher accepts Oasis' award for 'Best Album of 30 Years' Getty Images
Racial slur prompts public response ahead of tour
The post, now deleted, triggered a wave of reactions from fans, some calling the language racist. One user replied, “Liam you can’t say that,” to which Gallagher initially responded, “Why.” After further backlash, another fan warned he could get “cancelled,” prompting Gallagher to retort, “Whatever.” These responses only heightened the controversy before his eventual apology.
The term used by Gallagher has long been condemned for mocking East Asian accents and was especially criticised during the pandemic when anti-Asian hate incidents increased globally.
— (@)
Oasis set for comeback after 15-year hiatus
The controversy comes at a pivotal moment for Gallagher. Oasis, the Britpop band he co-founded with his brother Noel, is preparing for a major reunion tour kicking off Friday, 5 July, in Cardiff, Wales. The tour will include over 40 concerts across the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, and Mexico, running through November.
The band split in 2009 after years of personal tensions, but recent announcements, including an upcoming concert film directed by Steven Knight, have fuelled excitement around their long-awaited return.
Liam Gallagher plays to a sell out crowd at the Universal AmphitheatreGetty Images
Fans react with mixed emotions
While some fans expressed disappointment over the singer’s comments, others welcomed his apology and are focused on the upcoming shows. Gallagher has been active on social media in recent weeks, hyping the tour and interacting with fans, including praising a prankster who trolled Green Day with a cheeky rendition of Wonderwall.
Liam and Noel Gallagher perform together in Cardiff for the first time since 2009 Instagram/oasis
As Oasis returns to the stage, the incident may linger, but it remains to be seen whether it will cast a shadow over one of the most anticipated tours of the year.