The Lion King Stage Show

The Lion King Stage Show

Reviewed by Samantha MacKenzie

Disney's Bringing The Pride To Manchester!

The Lion King is coming to Manchester's Palace Theatre later this year. It is a massive hit of the West End, and what I have seen so far, I know why!

They have taken the story of the film and magically adapted it and dare I say enhanced it. The animated animals of the film are brought to life on stage in a variety of inventive and artistic ways.

My favourite part of any show is the set design, with the Disney stories like Mary Poppins, I watch in total awe of the stage magic, cleaning the nursery and the magical walk in the park. Not to mention Mary Poppins flew over my head! The ingenuity of making magic real, Beauty and the Beast with the enchanted castle full of talking teapots and candlesticks, worked on stage, and Lumiere had real fire on his candles!! My daughter sat mesmerised when the Beast transformed in front of her very eyes into a handsome Prince. Disney know their magic and they know how to suggest an idea for our imaginations to take over.

The Lion King has gone even further with this. It has combined the set with the costumes and infused it all with diverse influences of African cultures. Beautiful feline masks, beaded costumes and exotic fabrics, all come together with the story to enrich the story we already know. The costumes are so warm and truly beautiful, it has made the story more powerful, but also energising and rich. The ways they suggest the movement and the animals is flawless. There are new songs, which help mature the story and have added further depth to some characters.

I have started a little bit of Christmas shopping already (I know it's February), tickets are on sale for The Lion King and this is a real treat for anyone. I'll take my children, but if I could go without them (and ever hear the end of it), I would!!

This is an exotic, energising experience and I would encourage everyone to experience it.

For more details about the show and tickets visit here: http://www.manchestertheatres.com/lionking.htm