Lord of the Rings musical opens

The three-hour production has a cast of 50 actors and acrobats

The stage adaptation of JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings has opened in London's West End.

The £12.5m show, which features a stage fitted with 17 pneumatic lifts underneath it, began previews at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in May.

The production has been re-worked and cut by 35 minutes after its debut last year in Toronto was panned by critics.

Last month theatre bosses were forced to cancel performances after an actor injured his leg on stage.

'Plunged into events'

Actor Adam Salter yelled out in pain after hurting his leg while playing a Ranger.

Director Matthew Warchus said the production is a "hybrid of text, physical theatre, music and spectacle".

He added: "To read the novel is to experience the events of Middle-earth in the mind's eye; only in the theatre are we actually plunged into the events as they happen.

"The environment surrounds us. We participate. We are in Middle-earth," he said.

The three-hour production has a cast of 50 actors and acrobats and the wardrobe uses 500 pieces of armour.