The Lion King- Lyceum Theatre

Growing up watching Disney films and living in London, I was always eager to go to a theatre show. Throughout Secondary school is when the opportunity came about by picking Drama as a choice in A-Level, I saw so many shows that I fell in love with it as an art. So, picture this; good company with people your age and watching a film put into reality that you grew up on, I was in awe...Hakuna Matata right?

Having a high expectation on this show, I was skeptical on how the show would be portrayed from film to reality, but I think that the producer Julie Taymor, her designing of all of the costumes and the staging is by far one of the most inventive, inspiring and moving pieces I feel ever to be seen on a stage.

Based on the film, of which came out in 1994,The Lion King, based around and in the cat kingdom with the odd hyena or two or three, follows the adventures of a young lion named Simba, inheriting the heir of his father Mufasa. But Scar, Simba's wicked uncle plans to overthrow Mufasa's rein and also get rid of his nephew and his brother by inserting them into a stampede of wildbeasts.

Helping Simba out in his journey are his trusted friends, Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog. Now when I tell you this show just brings all of your childhood to life. You’re viewing it in front of you is what I found amazing. Now don't laugh at me but I felt like I was a child again!

In terms of seating; the theatre has good spacing as it is not that small and also it isn't that big..Perfect size even though at times I suffered due to my vision not being 100% and me silly enough forgetting my specs at home that day! Hopefully not giving too much away, the show starts of by the cast singing one of the most famous Lion King songs in my opinion, Circle of Life and straight away captures the attention of every single person watching – you end up in awe.

The level of makeup I think is outstanding – she puts so much attention to detail and that allows the actors to be able to portray the animals in a way which felt human-like, and it seemed like it felt like second nature to them.

A surprise aspect which I also enjoyed was the audience interaction they included at the start whilst introducing all the different characters/animals, I was not involved as my seat was further up so I had more of a view but I felt that this gave the show its special touch therefore something which made the show unique in my eyes.

The fact that when you are watching it, you think that it is only going to show the first film but it throws certain parts of both the second and third film so the way they incorporate it is a factor I think anyone who goes to watch this theatre show will and most definitely shall enjoy.

-Sharon Araujo