By: Kourtney Smith
For actor Laurence Boxall, the challenging role of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale is the chance of a lifetime.
The stage adaptation of the famous story brings J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic world to life, and Gollum—one of the most fascinating characters—plays a crucial part in the story.
So, how does an actor step into the mind of such a tormented, iconic figure?
In our interview, Laurence shared how he prepared for the role, his approach to Gollum’s voice and movement, and the unique challenges of performing the character on stage night after night.
A Lifetime of Preparation
For Laurence, playing Gollum feels like something he’s been preparing for his entire life.
“It’s funny,” he said. “I’ve always been rock climbing, and when I was younger, my dad used to call me ‘Gollum Toes’ because I’d crawl around and hang off doors.”
So, when the audition for the musical came along, he felt an immediate connection: “I cracked my knuckles and thought, ‘All right, I think I’m ready.’”
Once he got the role, the real work began.
“I went back to the books,” Laurence explained.
“Tolkien’s writing is so detailed. I took a little notebook and reread The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, jotting down every time Gollum was mentioned—his movement, his thoughts, his interactions. I wanted to mine every bit of information.”
Honouring the Legacy of Andy Serkis
Andy Serkis’ portrayal of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings films set a high bar. Laurence acknowledged that audiences will likely have Serkis’ performance in mind when they watch the musical.
“Andy did much the same thing—he studied the books meticulously,” Laurence said. “Everything he did in the films is already in Tolkien’s writing. My job is to honour that but also bring something fresh.”
The musical adaptation allows for a deeper exploration of aspects of Gollum that weren’t as prominent in the films.
“There are elements we touch on that get glossed over in the movies,” said Laurence. “I want to highlight those moments and offer a truthful performance that stays rooted in what Tolkien wrote.”
The Challenge of Gollum’s Voice
One of the most distinctive things about Gollum is his voice. Laurence studied a rare recording of Tolkien himself reading Riddles in the Dark—the chapter in The Hobbit where Bilbo first meets Gollum.
“We actually get to hear how Tolkien imagined Gollum sounding,” Laurence said. “In the books, it’s very prescriptive—the elongated ‘Precioussss,’ the guttural ‘Gollum’ sound. That gave me a foundation to work with.”
At the same time, performing live brings unique challenges.
“I have to do this voice eight times a week, sometimes twice a day,” he said. “Unlike filming a movie, I don’t get breaks between takes. I needed to find a sustainable way to keep the character’s voice intact without destroying mine.”
Getting into Character—Literally
Offstage, Laurence’s preparation sometimes unsettles his housemates.
“As I was getting ready for rehearsals, they’d hear me muttering to myself, figuring out the voice,” he laughed. “And yes, I practised crawling around the living room.”
On stage, his physical transformation is striking. “I shave my head and beard every morning. Then, it takes about 45 minutes to apply the full-body makeup to make me look bruised, battered, and filthy.”
Costume-wise, the design reflects Gollum’s harsh existence.
“He’s 600 years old. His original clothes would have disintegrated. So he scavenges—wearing whatever he can find from goblins or unfortunate travellers.”
To move like Gollum, Laurence wears specialised toe shoes that allow him to grip the stage like a creature accustomed to crawling through caves.
“It’s all about making it believable but also safe enough to do every night.”
Bringing Tolkien’s World to the Stage
With the books spanning thousands of pages and the film adaptations running over nine hours, adapting The Lord of the Rings into a stage musical is a monumental task. But Laurence is confident that audiences will be captivated by the experience.
“It’s an incredible challenge,” he said, “but Tolkien’s world is so rich, and the music adds another layer of depth and emotion. I think fans will love it.”
Whether you love Gollum, fear him, or sympathise with him, one thing is certain—Laurence Boxall is ready to bring this legendary character to life in a whole new way.
Article supplied with thanks to Sonshine.
Images: Publicity / Supplied