Nothing beats a Disney classic, and The Lion King is up there as one of Disney’s greatest stories ever told.
I am a huge Disney fan, so I have seen every version of The Lion King going and have loved them all. In fact, I must admit this is now my third time watching The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre, and every time it gets better, which says a lot!
Disney’s The Lion King is celebrating the arrival of Posi Morakinyo and Asha Parker-Wallace in the roles of Simba and Nala.
The Lion King musical, with book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, is based on the 1994 Walt Disney Animation Studios classic film. Originally directed by Julie Taymor, the musical takes us to the animal kingdom of East Africa, where lions rule and all the animals live together as part of the Circle of Life. It tells the story of a royal lion cub, Simba (Posi Morakinyo), whose father Mufasa (Shaun Escoffery) is the respected King of the Pride Lands.
When tragedy strikes and Simba’s evil uncle Scar (George Asprey) takes control of the kingdom, the young prince is forced to flee and leave his home behind. As he grows older, Simba must confront his past, discover who he truly is, and decide whether he is ready to return home and take his rightful place as king.
What makes The Lion King musical so special is the beautiful puppetry by Julie Taymor and Michael Curry. Every animal comes to life on stage as actors seamlessly move with their handcrafted puppets and costumes. It truly feels as though you have stepped into a magical safari.
“Representing different cultures and backgrounds, the cast showcases an incredible amount of talent, and that is so important”.
The songs by Elton John are some of the most beloved Disney songs ever written. Can You Feel the Love Tonight and Circle of Life are two of my all-time favourites and will always remain timeless classics, not to mention karaoke favourites too.
The scenic design by Richard Hudson helps immerse us even further into the animal kingdom, while Garth Fagan‘s incredible choreography allows us to enjoy every second of the cast’s movement across the stage.
Talking about the cast, they were brilliant. Every single person performed their socks off. They sang with passion, acted with sincerity, and danced with so much joy. They had the audience laughing, singing along, and completely swept up in the magic of the story.
One of the things I love most about this musical is seeing so many talented global majority performers on stage. Representing different cultures and backgrounds, the cast showcases an incredible amount of talent, and that is so important. I love seeing people who look like me on stage, and I hope that continues for generations to come.
If you are going to watch one thing this summer, let it be The Lion King. It’s perfect for the whole family and will leave you feeling full of joy and happiness. My heart felt so full by the end as I looked around and saw both young and old completely in awe of what they had just witnessed on stage.
The only thing missing was Aaron Pierre. Ha!
Disney’s The Lion King is playing at the Lyceum Theatre with bookings until 16 May 2027.
