Wednesday October 7th 2026

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – Live In Concert

TikTok Entertainment Centre

Review by Rose Jennings & Autumn Sagal

If the summer of The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Obsession has taught us anything, it’s that cinema’s glory days have returned. After several years of box office disappointments in our post-Covid, binging-from-home world, it seems that people are once again excited to go to the cinema, grab a bucket of popcorn, and enjoy movies on the big screen.

The cinema creates a unique experience; strangers sharing journeys into imaginative worlds and getting to respond to exciting storytelling in a collective setting. Such encounters have shaped our social discussions for over a century, from small talk about the newest releases to bonding over films so beloved that we’ve returned to the cinema to experience them again.

Listening to a film’s score, hearing and feeling its emotional throughline, has always been an integral part of what makes going to the cinema so special. 

When moving pictures were first introduced, silent films would often have live music accompaniment with pianists or other musicians. Therefore, it’s no surprise that film soundtracks/scores have garnered their own fanbases and influence over popular culture through the years. 

In an age of artificial intelligence making it increasingly harder to decipher what is real and what is generated, an appreciation of the arts has become even more apparent. Thus there has been a rise in recent years of Live Film Concerts showcasing the talent behind some of the world’s most beloved films scores.

These concerts arrange the musicians and choir to be stood performing alongside the film, providing a unique perspective on how we consume and acknowledge modern media. 

The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film franchises have become a cultural phenomenon since their release over two decades ago. Based on the books by J.R.R Tolkien, the story and its characters are adored by fans over generations. 

The epic’s sweeping, dramatic score by Howard Shore enhances the adventure, his motifs for each section of Middle Earth really encouraging the audience to feel the presence of the Elves, Dwarves, and Orcs. Hearing such a score performed live felt as though the film’s world truly surrounded the cinema, bringing us ever closer to the Fellowship and their journey.

Performed by The Metropolitan Orchestra, Sydney Philharmonia Choir, and The Sydney Children’s Choir, the sheer amount of musicians perched in front of the screen really demonstrated how much of a collective effort performing Shore’s music takes. The conductor directed this sea of musicians with enthusiasm and flow, helping the strings, winds, and brass to rise and fall together as one. 

Some standout performances included the innovative and interesting percussion section that included literal chains to underscore some of the more dramatic compositions, a trio of dulcimer players who almost seemed Elvish themselves, and the solo vocalists’ angelic, echoey hymns.

The live score felt like narration for the passage to Mordor, embodying the characters’ euphoric highs and devastating emotional lows. The local choirs provided beautiful renditions of the invented Middle-earth languages, which are included within many of the soundtrack’s pieces, making the overall event thoroughly immersive. 

The love for The Lord of the Rings was evident when glancing across the audience filling the seats at Sydney’s TikTok Entertainment Centre. There were groups of all ages, from families, friends, and couples to those enjoying the evening solo. Some wore their Sunday Best while others chose to dress on theme, either cosplaying characters within the film or simply accessorising with elf ears and wizard staffs’. 

Despite growing up with the franchise, we had never had the opportunity to watch these films on the big screen, let alone with such a large audience. 

Hence watching The Fellowship of the Ring in such a communal setting truly amplified the viewing experience. The energy within the room was palpable, not because the audience was unsure of what to expect from the film’s narrative, but from the sheer awe of witnessing such complex and comprehensive pieces be performed with precision. 

The first installment of the LotR trilogy has become iconic, with many moments being transformed into memes and memorable “bits” that are still quoted to this day. 

For example the infamous “YOU SHALL NOT PASS!”  

Proving that the film has transcended the era from which it was made and has certainly embedded itself within online culture. It was joyous to be in a room surrounded by frequent laughter and acknowledgement of the humorous, yet nostalgic, early 2000s cgi.

Overall, the evening was truly memorable and definitely worth attending whether you’re a major fan of the franchise, simply a cinema enthusiast, or an avid supporter of the musical arts. 

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – Live In Concert

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TikTok Entertainment Centre

October 7th & 8th 6:30pm

Review by Rose Jennings & Autumn Sagal