The Lion King – Bord Gáis Energy Theatre – Review
28 September – 11 November 2023

THE LION KING – Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions
Dates: 28 September – 11 November 2023
AGE GUIDANCE: Recommended for 6+

At the start of the production, a Lion cub is born! There is a huge event to mark the occasion, with all the animals attending. The theatre floods with ‘wild animals’ as Hippos, Rhinos and many smaller animals walk through the aisles of the theatre and make their way to the stage. There are other animals already on stage, with Giraffes, Gazelles and birds such as Zazu (André Jewson), Mufasa’s most trusted advisor.

The animals have consulted the spirits and the name of the new cub is to be Simba. He is the son of the Lion King Mufasa (Jean-Luc Guizonne) and is destined to be king himself. Scar (Brian Gilligan) does not attend the event with the other animals. He is despondent and is starting to see himself as irrelevant. He starts to plot a way in which he can take the throne for himself.

The Lion King film was released in 1994 and became a Disney classic. It starred the voices of Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons and James Earl Jones as the iconic Simba, Scar and King Mufasa. The film took almost a billion dollars at the box office and was nominated for several Oscars including Best Original Song and Score. It is known for a number of iconic songs, written by Tim Rice and Elton John including “Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata”, and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”.  It was converted to a Live Action film in 2019, directed by Jon Favreau. The Musical made its debut in 1997, only 3 years after the release of the original film. It largely follows the same script with a couple of new scenes and other minor changes.

One surprising element on the night of this review was that there were three delays due to ‘technical difficulties’. It’s extremely unusual for a large touring production such as this to stop for any reason as they are well-oiled machines. While it did break the flow, the impact was relatively small on the overall production.

It would be difficult not to mention the costumes and puppets in this production as they are quite spectacular. The whole team involved have really outdone themselves to create these dazzling-looking birds and animals. The director, Julie Taymore, is also listed as Costume Design, Mask/ Puppet Co-design so you can see how integral they are to the production.

While the characters of Simba, Scar and King Mufasa are the main characters involved, this is very much an ensemble piece. The orchestra was so large that there were two percussionists in the auditorium, as they occupied one of the boxes on each side of the stage with a variety of drums. The production feels very fluid, with characters moving around the full space of the theatre, not restricted to just the stage itself. The music is also very impressive, with an emphasis on African sounds and beats. It’s a lively and powerful piece of musical theatre. If you’re looking for a special treat for the whole family, this one comes highly recommended.