After an unprecedented six weeks of previews (required to finesse its elaborate technical staging), Matthew Warchus’ mighty new stage spectacle The Lord of the Rings had its official opening at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 19 June. It’s a big show, and the road to Mordor has often been a demanding one for James Loye (Frodo), Malcolm Storry (Gandalf), Michael Therriault (Gollum), Laura Michelle Kelly (Galadriel) and the dedicated ensemble and crew of the opulent show. Theatre.com was at the first night when the curtain came down on Middle Earth and afterward at the super-swanky aftershow party at London’s Royal Courts of Justice. Take a look.

Photos by Dave M. Benett for Theatre.com