There is something about THE LION KING which touches us all. Ultimately, it’s a story about family, love and the fight between good and evil. In fact, everything which makes Disney great.
The latest touring production of this 28 year old movie classic has set up camp at the Wales Millennium Centre where it plays till the end of August. This run has been a long wait for the city too. Originally planned for 2 years ago, covid cancellations forced them to reschedule and we’ve had to wait until now to see this phenomenal stage production.
That is the past and this is now, and with new cast members, along with all the things we’ve come to love about The Lion King on stage, it was press night last night and we finally got to see the much anticipated show on the Donald Gordon stage.
I’ve had to think carefully about just how many cliches I’ll be using here, so let me apologise in advance and tell you there will be a lot – and each of them well deserved.
It’s not often you can say a show gives you goosebumps, even before the curtain rose. The anticipation from everyone packed into the theatre actually began before we even came into the auditorium. The souvenir stalls were packed, pictures and posters welcomed us, and it became clear this is something everyone has been waiting for.
Which is the perfect point to let you watch the audience reaction from last night’s performance. We spoke to a very excited crowd, both young and old. We also managed to track down a few people before the performance began who were thrilled the long wait is over and this magical Disney production is finally here in the city.
I walked alongside a family towards the WMC last night, just as we passed the electronic billboards a poster for The Lion King rolled into view, the gasps of excitement were instant and loud, and not only from the two eager kids.
Then the show begins: The first note is struck, from an outstanding orchestra, and the auditorium is filled with birds swooping above us, giraffes strutting down the aisles, elephants walked past an awestruck audience. I kid you not, full size elephants paraded through the auditorium as Pride Rock rises onto the stage. This is a sight you will never forget. The colour and majesty of it all is spectacular. The costumes, the set, and an explosion of colour is simply breathtaking, there’s no other way to describe it.
It’s easy to see how the stage adaptation, which first opened on broadway in 1997, has collected every major award going and continues to play to packed audiences around the world. Last count it had racked up something like 100 cities in 20 countries, 22 years of that have been spent in the Lyceum in London.
The stats to get this show on the road are pretty staggering too – as we say in our The Lion King special, it takes 150 people to bring the 61 shows to 1 Cardiff stage. If you are a lover of the show, head over to that feature for our THE LION KING FACT FILE.
In any good review it’s at this point we would tell you all about the story, but there’s a part of me thinks you already know that bit – but here goes….
We follow the journey of Simba from wide-eyed (and very cute) lion cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands.
Set against the Serengeti Plains we get the full majestic effect and the familiar rhythms of Africa. The story roars into life using spectacular masks, puppets, and costumes to tell the story of Simba’s epic adventures, as he struggles with the responsibilities of adulthood and becoming king.
As with the movie we meet interesting characters, good, bad and down right mean.
Simba’s father Mufassa (JEAN-LUC GUIZONNE) is murdered by his evil uncle Scar, which sets Simba on a journey of freedom and discovery. Along the way we meet movie, and now stage favourites Timon (ALAN MCHALE) and Pumba (CARL SANDERSON), who bring much needed light after the darkness cast by Scar.
We all adored the Meerkat and Warthog in the movie, and you’d think it was a difficult ask to bring these two loveable characters to life, but they don’t don’t call Disney ‘Imagineers‘ for nothing. The skill, work and details that goes into everything you see on stage is astonishing. The make up, the puppetry, the costumes and choreography transport you from your seat right into the heart of the story with the most animal-like humans you’ll see anywhere.
Incidentally, for you fact collectors out there, we have 232 puppets gracing the WMC stage and each of them is a technically brilliant work of art.
This is of course a musical and with the mix of the Elton John & Tim Rice Oscar winning soundtrack and rousing African arrangements performed by an incredible orchestra, conducted by JON ASPITAL you have all the elements to make this a truly unforgettable experience.
Just one thing to say about the music. Some of the percussion take up a couple of the circle coxes, so they are effectively out in the audience. What this does is give you the most incredible ‘wrap around’ sound, which really adds to the atmosphere.
Having said that, it’s a long time since I saw the original London production and I had indeed forgotten how awesome the show is, so I say, see it once, make sure you see it again while it’s in the city.
The cast are headed by STEPHENSON ARDERN-SODJE and NOKWANDA KHUZWAYO who have recently taken on the roles of Simba and Nala. Which is also a good point to mention JOSHUA KHANYISA SMITH and RILEY-ANN NICHOLLS MURPHY who give a first class performance as the Young Simba and Young Nala (who you get to see may well be different). The only disappointing thing is they weren’t able to take their well deserved applause at the end of the show. It’s a late finish and rules don’t allow. I can tell them both, we all wanted to give you heck of a standing ovation.
All our favourite characters are there, including a phenomenal performance from THANDAZILE SONI as Rafiki. What a voice – the WMC theatre is a big one to fill but she does it with absolute ease. She is also incredibly funny.
On the subject of funny, MATTHEW FORBES is as dextrous and hilarious as can be as Zazu. And the power you would expect from the wicked Uncle Scar is in the shape of RICHARD HURST.
I actually got to spend a bit of time with Jeremy Irons when I interviewed him at the Old Vic a few years ago. Despite the countless roles he’s played, I could only imagine him as Scar in the original movie – Richard now shares that role in my head, he is really good. Ironically, both he and Jeremy did their training in the West Country, clearly Bristol can really turn out fearsome evil Disney lions!
I do want to give a mention to our local lad in the show OWAIN RHYS DAVIES who plays Ed. We know he is excited to be playing a long run in his home town and of course it’s always good to see local talent performing in such an iconic show – welcome home Owain.
The rest of the adult cast are made up with REBECCA OMOGBEHIN as Shenzi and SIMON TRINDER who is Banzai. There are of course many more fantastic performers who make up the casting for the show, you can take a look at who is in which role HERE.
From the very moment we have that goosebump inducing opening, when Pride Rock rises from the stage and the animals take their place to greet the new ‘Prince’ you are completely absorbed in the experience. You are swept into a world filled with incredible songs, effects and the most colour filled fest
The songs we know and love are all there, ‘Circle Of Life‘, ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight‘, ‘Hakuna Matata‘ (which was a fantastic moment in the show), ‘He Lives In You’ and so many more classics.
For me however, it’s the storytelling which is at the heart of this production. Throw in RICHARD HUDSON’S scenic design, some incredible lighting by DONALD HOLDER. MICHAEL CURRY’S mask and puppet creations, which he co-created with the show director JULIE TAYMOR and you have a piece of theatre which transports you heart, soul and imagination into a world like no other.
We’ve had Aladdin, we adore Frozen, which is filling out theatres every night in London, but there is no doubt who reigns supreme – THE LION KING is a near perfect night at the theatre as you’ll get anywhere.
My visit to Pride Rock made me proud that I was able to witness this spectacle on a stage like the Wales Millennium Centre right here in South Wales. I guarantee you will walk out the door with an experience in your head, and heart, that will live with you for a long time.
The show is powerful, moving and epic and even after all these years there is nothing like it, and I suspect there never will be again. There’s only one King and he is ruling the capital through to 27th August. As our title says, this is a big show which deserves a big review, THE LION KING is two and a half hours of pure magic.
Tickets are in really short supply but if you search the website and are flexible with dates and times, you can still get some. For more information, go here. LION KING
And a reminder you can check out all the facts and figures in our The Lion King special HERE.
