Roar of approval as Lion King hits town

When the curtain goes up on Disney's spectacular stage show The Lion King, there is always one leading actor who can be heard backstage complaining about his lot.

Stephen Carlisle's fellow actors are used to seeing him pacing around, ranting about how unfair life is.

However, Stephen isn't a prima donna – he is just getting into the mean and moody role of Scar for the hit show.

The Lion King will be one of the biggest productions ever staged at the Birmingham Hippodrome when it arrives in the second city on June 29 for a three-month run.

It takes a convoy of 23, 45ft trailers to transport The Lion King from one city to the next on its UK and Ireland tour.

"You have to go through a big transformation before you step on stage – it takes one hour to get make-up done.

"Also, when the curtain goes up I'm pacing around behind the scenes saying to myself 'Life is just not fair' - Scar is a bit crazy, a bit of a psychopath."

The Lion King's touring cast in one of the most cosmopolitan in theatreland. Walsall youngster Adelaide Morgan is making her professional debut in the show as Young Nala, while other stars are from nations as far flung as Japan, South Africa, and Trinidad & Tobago.

Stephen, who hails from London, says when he first went for the audition he was so keen to get the role he tried to not just act like a lion, but look like one as well.

"Before I went in for the audition I looked in the mirror and thought I looked a bit bland, so I put on some eyeliner and made my hair stick up," he says.

"I did my song and they were quite into it – I just kept running my fingers through my hair and I must have looked quite mad. However, a week later I was told I had the big, fat job of Scar."

Actors not only have to get into the role but also learn how to move to make the carbon fibre puppets look as realistic as possible.

"You have to make the puppet breathe – you can't just move it because it will look drunk, you have to do solid movements, it has to be crisp – not wishy-washy," he says.

"I have to go to the gym regularly to make sure my back and neck are strong for the show."

Crews will have to work 24 hours a day over six days to unload trailers and set-up in time for opening night.

The trailers are filled with everything including 700 costumes, puppets, props and stage sets.

So large is the scale of this award-winning musical it employs 150 people, of which 40 are local.

Veteran Gugwana Dlamini has played Rafiki since 2002 and opens the show with the song Circle of Life.

"It is a challenging show and so you have to physically relax before you come to work," she says.

"I can never do the show without doing a warm-up beforehand, like a football player, and then I put myself into character."

During the opening scene of the show a parade of life-size puppets proceed through the aisles of the auditorium and onto stage, a large elephant narrowly missing the overhead lights.

Gugwana says: "The show feels new every day as it is a different audience every night – it is the first time they are seeing it.

"By the time the curtain goes up I'm already into it – and when I see people clapping and smiling I think 'I've done a good job here'.

"I'm looking forward to coming to Birmingham – the audiences have loved us everywhere and we are hoping they do in the West Midlands as well."