Bristol Hippodrome – until 23 November 2019
Reviewed by Lucy Hitchcock
5*****
The well known and loved Disney classic has hit Bristol for an extended stay that will delight and excite you, sparking every emotion within you to the surface.
The Lion King is a visually stunning feast that will transport you to the plains of Africa through incredible scenery, costumes and music. Julie Taymor, the shows director, costume designer, mask and puppet co-design and responsible for the additional lyrics to the show has created a masterpiece. Combined with the talents of Richard Hurst, Jean-Luc Guizonne, Thandazile Soni as Scar, Mufasa and Rafiki respectively, this is an incredible piece.
The show began with the classic ‘Circle of Life’, where the stage was adorned with Elephants, Rhinos, Giraffe and every other quintessential African animal you could dream of. The puppetry in this show is phenomenal. Jack Galloway, Antje Gern and Sophie Jones along with Taymor have created such exquisite puppets that amaze and leave the audience wondering ‘how on earth did they do that?!’ Each member of the cast, main and ensemble, are all equally as talented as they effortlessly manoeuvre these puppets across the stage. Two that stood out to me were Steve Beirnaet as Timon, the lovable meerkat and Matthew Forbes as Zazu, Mufasa’s hornbilled sidekick. These two completely submerged themselves in the roles, leaving us unsure as to whether to watch the puppet or enjoy the facial expressions of the actor.
Vocally, this is extraordinary. Thandazile Soni as Rafiki commands the stage from a single note at the beginning of the show and takes us on this journey. She embodies Rafiki perfectly, with humour and amazingly soaring vocals, she is an amazing part in this astounding show. ‘He Lves in You’ saw the vocal talent of Soni coupled with the incredible lighting of Alistair Grant and the commanding puppetry from the cast, this was one of the most poignant scenes in the show.
This show is an immersive experience, with incredible talent and passion; you could see how hard the cast were working. The cast is incredibly talented and if you wish to see an expertly operated production that is extremely smooth and flawless, you need look no further. Disney’s The Lion King will see you cry, laugh and smile whilst experiencing the full Circle of Life.
Playing at The Bristol Hippodrome until Saturday 23rd November. If you don’t catch it in Bristol it will be at Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre from 9th July to the 29th August 2020