The West End production of The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre is a must-see for all families and friends. The last tickets that can be booked for this is for the 18th of June 2023. The majority of people who saw this spectacle of a performance thoroughly enjoyed it and thought it was wonderful. Theatre-enthusiast Louise Perkins states, "This is one of my all-time favourite shows and brought tears to my eyes. A very nostalgic story for it played such a big part of my childhood, so it holds a special place in my heart."

 


All the unforgettable music numbers are performed beautifully, including the iconic "Circle of Life", dastardly "Be Prepared" and the upbeat "Hakuna Matata", all brought to the stage right before your eyes. The music is unique and completely sets the tone of the entire film. The events of the play might be relatable to those viewing it such as Simba trying to discover who he is meant to be and losing a parent a young age. There is an overall positive message through the production about being yourself and to not concern too much about problems which are important and uplifting ideas for young, impressionable children. That is why it remains as one of the most popular stage shows of all time alongside the stunning sets accompanied by brilliant actors.

 


The cast do an incredible job of bringing the characters to life using technology such as puppets and masks, that have each been carefully handmade and crafted. For example, Scar's mask is fully mechanical and moves via the actor's command using his staff. The talented cast of this stunning West End sensation do an outstanding job every time, leaving crowds roaring at the finale. It would be even more wonderful to see a cast with higher diversity under the spotlights performing this classic Disney-tale. Whilst the play itself has a more diverse cast than most West End productions, it would need a higher number of non-white actors to make it as representative as possible of native African nations. A West End show (being a mainstream theatre production) showing diversity among their actors could directly influence other producers to imitate that as well. To authentically capture the essence and heritage of Africa - which is where Pride Rock is located- they have six different indigenous languages spoken throughout the show which include Swahili, Zulu, Xhosa and more. 

 


 This version of the classic story is presented in breath-taking and magnificent methods. It brings nostalgia to those who've already experienced it but a life-changing adventure for those in the younger generations who have not.