This is what we have all been waiting for! Disney’s The Lion King has at long last returned to the North East.
If you missed out on the production back in 2014, don’t worry because it is here in Sunderland for 7 weeks.
Running from Thursday 16th March until Saturday 6th of May there is plenty of chance to grab tickets. It’s a popular show so if you haven’t been able to book the date you wanted, make sure you follow the social media pages for Sunderland Empire as they will post any spare tickets available.
The last tour of The Lion King broke attendance records across the UK and is now the 6th longest running show on the west end.
This UK tour is not to be missed. From the start, the amazing opening scene transports you out of youre seat and into the wilds of Africa. Youre immediately wowed by the size and imagination behind the costumes. For me as soon as I heard the music I was took straight back to being sat in front of my TV on the floor watching the video over and over again. I know I’m not the only one that has done that. On video, DVD or a streaming service, every loves The Lion King.
Disney’s The Lion King the musical is everything you expect it to be. The production behind all of Disney’s musicals always amaze me. The staging is so versatile and every scene is smoothly transitioned and with amazing props. For this show, the actors are is costume that bring the animals to life and you soon start looking past the painted faces and start believing the animals on stage. Thats testament to the costume design AND the cast on stage.
This year, the musical has 12 new actors joining the cast of over 50 on the stage. When they are all in costume and on stage together its a scene you’ll never forget. The team behind this costume design has won 5 Tony awards and it’s very obviously deserved.
The show has all of the well loved songs you instantly sing when someone says “Lion King”. But it also has and extra few songs written by South African composer Lebo M. He created an evocative blend of African rhythms and chorales, with additional material by Julie Taymor and Mark Mancina.
“Elton John and Tim Rice have added three new numbers to the five that they wrote for the award-winning score of the animated film. The resulting sound of THE LION KING is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, including the Academy Award®-winning Can You Feel The Love Tonight and the haunting Shadowland.”
If you haven’t seen the movie then don’t worry. The musical is way more than just nostalgia. It’s an experience to witness costume design. As well as A full theatre production of amazing talented musicians, actors and a heart-warming story you’ll never forget.
*press invite however opinions are my own
