A review of the Lion King play in London

The Lion King play/musical is an adaptation of the popular animated Disney movie of the same name. Since its release in 1997, the musical has been a huge success on Broadway and among West End shows. Read on to find out more about The Lion King in London.

About the play

Based upon the popular feature-length Disney movie, The Lion King play is a musical adaptation performed by the music and lyrics of Elton John and Tim Rice and accompanied by Hans Zimmer's musical score. Debuting in Minneapolis, the musical then opened on Broadway where, after 14 years, it continues to run. Following the instant success in the US, the show was moved to the Lyceum Theatre in London's West End in1999, and it gained instant popularity. The story Set against the backdrop of the majestic Serengeti, the musical features giant puppets and actors dressed in elaborate animal costumes who all sing and dance to the infectious sounds and evocative rhythms of Africa. The musical is a tale of the jungle and it follows the moving events that accompany Simba, the newly-born heir of the animal kingdom. After being tricked into believing he killed his own father, Simba retreats into exile in shame. Through songs and dances, the musical recounts the life of Simba and his eventual return home.

Critical success

As in the US, The Lion King has been one of the most popular theatre shows in London over the past decade and continues to perform to sell-out audiences. A great deal of its success is its ability to appeal to viewers from all generations and not only to children. The production has been nominated for numerous Tony and Olivier awards, winning both on various occasions. The songs of Elton John and Tim Rice have also proved to be successful outside of the musical. Can You Feel the Love Tonight and Circle of Life broke into the Top 20 of both the UK Singles Chart and Billboard Top 100.

Buying tickets

The Lion King, the musical, is currently running at the Lyceum Theatre every evening from Tuesday to Saturday. There are also matinee shows on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets can either be booked in advance on the theatre's website (Lyceum-theatre.co.uk) or on the day from the box offices situated in the Leicester Square area of London. Cheap show tickets are often sold out quickly. However, last minute deals are regularly available from places such as Leicester Square Box Office (lsbo.co.uk).