Theatre Review: Disney's The Lion King, Bristol Hippodrome

SUMMARY

Rating: ★★★★★

Running Dates: 18 May 2023 - 1 July 2023

Where to see it: Bristol Hippodrome 

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes (including interval)

Keywords: Disney, Drama, Comedy

Photo by Brinkoff and Mogenburg

REVIEW 

An immersive experience, full of entertainment and inspiration. A must-watch for anyone and everyone. 

Disney’s The Lion King Musical is based on the well-known animated film, Disney's The Lion King (1994). The film is a family favourite, so the world famous musical had a lot to live up to. 

The Lion King (musical) starts with a breathtaking introduction, with animals both onstage and offstage coming alive to the opening number: 'The Circle of Life'. Bringing back childhood memories, I got goosebumps as the audience was surrounded by herds of elephants swaying through the theatre, gazelles leaping across the stage and zebras trotting along the pridelands of Africa, to name a few.

This fully immersive experience allowed the audience to feel as though they were really there, present at pride rock for the announcement of Simba's birth. 

Throughout the well-loved storyline, it became clear that each and every detail had been carefully thought through. From set-design through to costumes, to the tiny movements made by the cast that made you forget there were people on stage at all. 

Photo by Deen Van Meer

You would be forgiven for assuming The Lion King (musical) is purely a copy of the cartoon film. However, this is not the case. The musical included new and unique songs and characters you won't recognise from the film (I won't go into detail about this for fear of spoiling it!) which worked tremendously well on stage. 

Scar, played by Richard Hurst, had a powerful stage presence, creating a feeling of unease and darkness whenever he was there. 

Mufasa's tragic but inevitable death was done in a tasteful yet heart-wrenching way, with young Simba, played by Vidar Soluade, portraying such raw emotion. The chemistry between Simba and Mufasa, played by Jean-Luc Guizonne, was clear. 

After eagerly anticipating the entrance of Timon and Pumbaa, it is safe to say I was not disappointed. Timon, played by Alan Mchale, and Pubaa, played by Carl Sanderson, came alive on stage, providing light relief for the audience and creating a permanent smile on our faces. 

The Lion King is an emotional but heart-warming story as you watch Simba battle with his emotions, while meeting friends and foes along the way. The musical portrays this in such a way that you feel like you too are part of the story rather than merely an observer.

Photo by Deen Van Meer

A highlight for me was Zazu, played by Matthew Forbes. He was funny, charismatic and really made the stage come to life. I appreciated the local references, such as St Nick's market and Somerset, and enjoyed bird Zazu's awareness of actor Zazu's presence on stage. 

The musical ended as it began, with the Circle of Life projected out by a multitude of animals gathered around pride rock. The audience were in high spirits, clapping along to the final number before giving a standing ovation to the well-deserved cast and ensemble. 

In summary, The Lion King (musical) is an awe-inspiring show that I would recommend to people of all ages.

Standout Moment: The Circle of Life 

See if: You would enjoy an immersive experience with incredible set-design and fantastic songs!

Last Impression: I need to go and watch the cartoon film now!

Written by Francesca Hepburn