Cast of Disney's The Lion King celebrate the show's 25 years in the West End
Disney's amazing Lion King musical this year celebrates it's 25th anniversary on the West End - bringing much joy to fans and cast and crew alike.
The story set on the Serengeti plains of Africa and is centred on a young lion cub called Simba as he grows up to reclaiming his rightful place as king after the untimely death of his father Mufasa and overcoming his villainous uncle Scar who wants to the the king.
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Famous for it songs including Circle of Life, Can You Feel the Love Tonight, Hakuna Matata, I Just Can't Wait to be King, This Land and Be Prepared , and the wonderful puppetery - the show also been staged in many countries over the decades including Germany, South Africa, Japan and Australia.
In over two decades around 19 million theatre-goers have been treated to the performances at London's Lyceum Theatre featuring all the drama and intrigue in a pride land savannah based on Disney’s 1994 animation movie of the same name The Lion King has an impressive pedigree, with lyrics by musical theatre composer Sir Tim Rice and music by pop legend Sir Elton John, not to mention additional music by specialist composers Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer and a script created by playwrights Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi.
To mark the silver anniversary members of the cast and production crew have been sharing their thoughts on why the show has proven such a big hit with fans all over the world.
Shaun Escoffrey, who has played Mufasa at the Lyceum for 15 years, says: "The audition process was gruelling. I really want to play Mustafa. There was a four or five-stage process and I remember walking into the room looking at the panel and thinking this is going to be interesting.”
“When I got the part I felt like I really worked to get it and unbeknownst to me at the time this is the point where the work really started. I remember the first day I met George. The principals were there. I was a nervous as well. As soon as Rafiki started to sing. It was so vivid.
“There's a soul to the soul. Everything lifted.”