Lion King prowls into Edinburgh for Christmas
Disney’s smash hit musical arrives 12 October for three month stay
Publicity picture for Disney’s The Lion King: Circle of Life (Giraffes and Cheetah)
By Thom Dibdin
Disney’s touring production of The Lion King has been booked into Edinburgh’s Playhouse for its Scottish premier dates this autumn. It will play for three months from 12 October to 18 January 2014.
These will be the only Scottish dates of the current UK touring production. Tickets priced £25-£55 (with “premium” seats also available) go on general sale on Wednesday 30 January at 8am in Edinburgh and at 11am by phone and online, with online group bookings from this Wednesday January 9 (details below).
Edinburgh Playhouse General Manager Gary Roden said: “We are absolutely thrilled Disney’s The Lion King is coming to The Edinburgh Playhouse this year. It will undoubtedly be the hottest theatre ticket in the country during 2013 and the most anticipated Scottish premiere of a musical this century.”
The musical, with Elton John and Tim Rice’s original hits from the Disney animation augmented with new songs and lyrics by South African composer Lebo M, is brought to the stage by director and co-designer Julie Taymor. It tells the tale of Simba, the young lion cub, as he journeys through life and struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destined role of King.
Taymor, a hugely innovative director, brought a vast array of disciplines to the show, including her extensive experience in staging epic theatre and opera productions, exploring classic myths through ritualised puppetry, mask, and movement. It was the first musical she directed in the commercial theatre, and she became the first woman to win the Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical.
Flabbergasting
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Cast Recording:
Four years in the making, this production brings together a cast of over 50 actors, singers and dancers from 17 different countries – supported by a backstage team of over 100 people. According to the promoters the touring production is the biggest musical production ever to tour the UK.
It uses hundreds of masks and puppets with more than 700 elaborate costumes representing 26 different types of animal. A total of 21 trucks are used to transport the production between dates. It is currently in Manchester and will tour to Dublin and Birmingham before arriving in Scotland. Having started in Bristol, production will visit 10 cities across the UK & Ireland over two and a half years, with further dates and locations to be announced.
The show’s statistics are flabbergasting. The first stage adaptation of Disney’s 1994 film was seen on Broadway in 1997 – where it recently became the highest grossing show in Broadway history. The production has now been seen by over 65 million people across five continents. The West End production continues to sell out at London’s Lyceum Theatre in its 14th year. Scotland will be the 18th country to stage it.
Gary Roden added: “This will be the only opportunity to see the show in Scotland, so we urge our loyal customers to book early to secure a seat, of course our ATG Theatre Card members have an exclusive booking period and you can buy your membership at the Box Office or online.
“It’s a once in a lifetime theatrical experience and one we’re sure our audience will love. It will bring major benefits to the community and economy of Edinburgh and Scotland as a whole.”
Disney’s The Lion King: Edinburgh Playhouse, Sat 12 Oct 2013 – Sat 18 Jan 1014.
Tickets go on general sale in Edinburgh on Wednesday 30 January at 8am at the Box Office; and at 11am by phone on 0844 871 7692 and online at: www.thelionking.co.uk
Online group bookings opens this Wednesday January 9 on www.thelionking.co.uk
ENDS
