Is This Spectacular Show Still Just As Good After 20 Years? The Lion King Musical Review

There are a few classic musicals that have always been on my bucket list, and The Lion King is definitely one of them. Disney's award-winning musical is an adaption of the hit 1994 animated film, originally created by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi - opening on Broadway in 1997 and the West End in 1999. But 25 years later, does the show still live up to the hype?

Critically-acclaimed director Julie Taymor is behind this adaptation, featuring music by the legendary Elton John, as well as lyrics by Tim Rice (who co-wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and other hit musicals) and a score by Hans Zimmer.

This bustling Soho theatre has been showing The Lion King since 1999.

DesignMyNight Review Of The Lion King Musical London

Walking up the Strand, it's not easy to miss the Lyceum Theatre, which is just off the side on Wellington Street and flaunting huge yellow posters displaying the musical's iconic logo. We headed up to our seats in the centre of the Royal circle, boasting a great view of the stage despite not being the closest.

This adaptation sticks to the story of the film pretty closely, following the journey of lion cub Simba, destined to become the king of the pride lands when he grows up. The show opens with a truly captivating rendition of The Circle Of Life, one of the most impressive parts of the whole thing, featuring almost all the incredible puppets that we went on to see throughout the performance. By far the most spectacular was the elephant: a huge grey structure operated by multiple people and really standing out on stage.

Other amazing puppets included giraffes walking on stilts, tropical birds held on sticks and an effectively realistic herd of gazelle - created by a group of dancers with the animals strapped to their sides.

The Lion King musical reviews all mention the spectacular puppets and costumes - and they really are something special.

The lions themselves also had fantastic costumes, with realistic lion heads that sat as hats when the actors were stood up, but seamlessly moved down in front of their faces when they jumped onto all fours. This made the battle scenes particularly effective, as the threatening poses of Scar and Mufasa were amplified by their adaptable masks.

The set underwent multiple changes to follow the story's setting, moving swiftly between grasslands, the savannah at sunset and the eerie elephant graveyard. There was a rotating staircase that came out of the stage floor at especially poignant parts, from Simba's birth to the final scene, which added to the drama of each moment.

Rafiki stole the show in this performance.

All the well-known songs that you'd expect are featured, and my favourite had to be I Just Can't Wait to Be King - though both of the stars in this scene were children (Emrys Zeph Adamah and Noelle Coker), their voices were brilliant, and they brought out brand new puppets at this point to make them taller and amplify their singing.

All of the actors here were unfaultable, though the standout performance was by Thenjiwe Thendiva Nofemele, who played Rafiki. The South African actress brought a unique humour and a powerful voice to the cast, and the whole audience was laughing every time she came on stage. However, Pumbaa (Mark Roper) and Timon (Alan McHale) were pretty hilarious too.

The Lion King London Musical: Overall

Having been going strong on the West End for 25 years, The Lion King definitely lives up to its reputation. Each of the songs was a true spectacle, with a mesmerising troupe of dancers creating the impression of the bustling African plains.

The whole cast was fantastic, both as singers and actors, but the real highlight was the use of puppetry and costumes to bring the performance to life. The Lyceum Theatre is a great place to watch it too, thanks to a good view of the stage no matter where you're sat.

Secure your spot at the show with The Lion King musical London tickets.