Staging Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings musical

Aspiring hobbits were sized up at the auditions for the musical in September 2006. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

Behind closed doors ... trying to catch a glimpse of the other auditioners. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

The open call for 20 hobbits attracted thousands of hopefuls to London's Theatre Royal. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

Strung up ... special training for the production included flying, stilt-walking, jumping and springing movements. Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

After months of preparation, Rosalie Craig prepares for her role as Arwen in the Theatre Royal's makeup room. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

As there wasn't a large enough theatre available in London, The Lord of the Rings received its world premiere in Toronto in 2006. Brent Carver starred as Gandalf. Photograph: Manuel Harlan/EPO Online

The Toronto premiere ... Matthew Warchus has decribed the concept as 'Shakespeare meets Cirque du Soleil'. Photograph: Manuel Harlan/EPO Online

A black rider roars across the stage in the Toronto production. Photograph: Manuel Harlan/EPO Online

The Canadian production squeezed Tolkien's epic into 225 minutes. Photograph: Manuel Harlan/EPO Online

Say cheese ... an enemy of the fellowship. Photograph: Julian Anderson

Malcolm Storry stars as Gandalf in The Lord Of The Rings at Drury Lane's Theatre Royal. Photograph: Tristram Kenton

The production makes use of a 40-tonne revolving stage. Photograph: Tristram Kenton

Laura Michelle Kelly stars as Galadriel in the musical. Photograph: Tristram Kenton

Meet the fellowship ... The Lord of the Rings opens on Tuesday June 19 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian