Lyceum Theatre - Lion King

As the sun rises, Rafiki the Baboon calls all the animals to Pride Rock. She greets King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi before presenting their newborn cub to the gathered animals ("Circle Of Life") Elsewhere, Mufasa's brother, Scar, laments on his missd chance at becoming king. Back at her baobab tree, Rafiki asks the great spirits to conjure up a name for the new prince: Simba

As time passes, Simba grows into a lively young cub ("Grasslands Chant"). Mufasa shows young Simba the Pride Lands from the top of Pride Rock and explains that everything exists in a delicate balance known as the Circle of Life. Mufasa warns Simba not to stray beyond the boundaries of the Pride Lands, pointing out a shadowy area in the distance.   Zazu, a hornbill who acts as Mufasa's trusted advisor, arrives and delivers his report on the daily state of affairs in the King's domain.

Simba then goes to see his uncle Scar. The scheming lion piques the cub's curiosity by mentioning the elephant graveyard, a place where Simba has been forbidden to go.

The lionesses all go out hunting ("The Lioness Hunt"), and Simba arrives and asks his best friend, a female cub named Nala to come with him along to the elephant graveyard, although he does not mention where they are going to his mother and lies saying that they intend to go to the water-hole. Sarafina (Nala's mother) and Sarabi allow the cubs to go when Zazu accompanies them. Simba and Nala formulate a plan to ditch him and they manage to lose Zazu, while Simba brags about his future position, (" I Just Can't wait To Be King" )

The cubs journey on towards the graveyard and begin to explore until Zazu finds and stops them. They are about to leave when they are confronted by three hyenas Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed.  The Hyenas intend to have all three of the unfortunates for lunch, and gloat over them eagerly, ("Chow Down"). Mufasa then arrives to rescue the cubs and frightens off all the hyenas.

Mufasa is disappointed and angry that Simba has disobeyed him. Simba says that he was only trying to be brave like his father. Mufasa tries to explain that bravery does not mean recklessly seeking out danger. Simba asks whether he and his father will always be together, causing Mufasa to look up to the night sky and tell Simba about the great kings of the past and how they guide and watch over everything ("They Live in You"). Mufasa tells Simba that he will always be there for his son.

At the elephant graveyard, Scar tells the hyenas that he will soon be king if the hyenas assist him, and that they will never know hunger again if they agree ("Be Prepared")  Scar then takes Simba to a gorge and tells him to wait there. Scar then leaves and signals to the hyenas, who start a stampede of wildebeest down into the gorge ("The Stampede"). Scar then tells Mufasa that Simba is trapped in the gorge, and Mufasa races to aid his son. Mufasa leaps into the stampede and manages to save his son, but as he climbs up a cliff, Scar betrays him and throws him down from the cliff, killing him.

Scar convinces Simba that his father's death was all his fault, as Mufasa died while trying to save him, and that he should flee the Pride Lands. As Simba runs, Scar orders the hyenas to chase and kill him. The hyenas obey, but when Simba gets too far, they decide to leave him and make Scar believe that Simba is dead.

Back at Pride Rock, Scar announces that both Mufasa and Simba are dead, and the lionesses and Rafiki mourn ("Rafiki Mourns"). Scar climbs to the promontory of Pride Rock, claims the throne for himself, and allows the hyenas into the Pride Lands as his personal executive staff ("Be Prepared (Reprise)"). Rafiki returns to her tree and smears the drawing of Simba, while Sarabi and Nala mourn for the ones whom they have loved and lost.

Out in the desert, Simba wanders and collapses from heat exhaustion. Vultures begin to circle, but are scared away by a meerkat called Timon and Pumbaa the warthog. The duo take the cub back to their jungle home and show him their relaxed way of life ("Hakuna Matata"). They tell Simba that they are outcasts as well and introduce him to their diet of bugs and insects. Simba is captivated by the carefree existence, and decides to stay in the jungle with his new friends.

Act Two

A chorus, dressed in colorful clothes with ornate bird puppets and kites, begin Act Two ("One by One"). At the end of the song, however, the beautiful birds are suddenly replaced by vultures and gazelle skeletons. A drought has hit the Pride Lands under Scar's tyrannical rule.

Zazu, who is now a prisoner of Scar, listens to all the king's woes. First, Scar has delusions of Mufasa's ghost haunting in every shadow. Then, he laments that he is not loved and ponders on the idea of finding a queen and having cubs. Nala arrives to inform Scar that there is no food and no water, just as the hyenas reported the same thing a few minutes ago; Scar attempts to flirt with her. Nala escapes ("The Madness of King Scar"). Utterly frustrated and upset by current events, Nala vows to leave the Pride Lands and find help, promising that she will never forget her pride. The lionesses and Rafiki offer her a blessing ("Shadowland").

Back in the jungle, Simba leads Timon and Pumbaa to find a suitable resting place. Timon and Pumbaa want to sleep, but the restless Simba is unable to sleep. Annoyed by Timon and Pumbaa, Simba disappears into the night. Timon and Pumbaa find their courage and follow Simba through the dark jungle. Simba leaps across a fast-moving river and challenges Timon to do the same. Timon attempts to but falls into the water and is swept downstream by the current until he reaches a waterfall, where he grabs onto a branch. Simba wants to save Timon but is sent into a flashback of his fathers death. Timon falls from the branch and Simba snaps out of the flashback, rescuing his friend. Simba is ashamed that Timon nearly died because of his recklessness.

That night the three friends look up at the stars, and wonder what they are. Simba recalls Mufasa's words regarding the great kings of the past, but Timon and Pumbaa dismiss it and laugh at the notion. Simba leaves, looking up at the sky and expresses bitterness about Mufasa's promise to him to always be there for him ("Endless Night").

At Rafiki's Tree, Rafiki hears Simba's song through the wind and comes to the joyous conclusion that Simba is alive. She draws a mane onto the drawing of Simba on her tree.

In the jungle, Pumbaa finds himself being hunted and chased by a lioness. Simba confronts the lioness and saves his friend. The lioness flips Simba, causing Simba to recognize that the lioness is actually his childhood friend Nala. Nala is amazed to find Simba alive, knowing that he is the rightful king. Timon and Pumbaa are confused by this, and Simba tells the two of them to leave so that he and Nala can be alone. Timon realizes what is happening and laments that he and Pumbaa's Hakuna Matata lifestyle has come to an end ("Can You Feel The Love Tonight"). Nala tells Simba about the sorry state of the devastated Pride Lands, and tries to encourage him to return and take his rightful place as king but Simba is still guilty about his father's death and leaves.

On his own, Simba meets Rafiki, who explains that his father is still alive ("He Lives in You (Reprise)"). and as Simba looks toward the sky, his father appears as a heavenly vision. Mufasa reminds Simba that he is the rightful king and must return home to the Pride Lands. Simba is persuaded and heads for Pride Rock.

Meanwhile, Nala wakes up Timon and Pumbaa to ask where Simba is. Rafiki appears and tells them that he has returned to Pride Rock.

Simba returns to Pride Rock with Timon, Pumbaa, and Nala, where he witnesses the ruin and devastation that his home has fallen into. Timon and Pumbaa lure some hyenas out of their path by providing a diversion. Timon dresses in drag and does the Charleston.  Simba tells Nala to go find his mother while he goes to look for Scar.

Scar calls for Sarabi and demands to know why the lionesses are not out hunting. Sarabi tells him that there is no food or water and that they need to leave Pride Rock to survive. Scar refuses and when Sarabi makes a comment about him about not being half the king Mufasa was, Scar strikes his sister-in-law saying that he iis ten times the king Mufasa was. At this, an enraged Simba leaps down, startling Scar, who believes that his nephew is dead. Scar forces a confession of murder from Simba and attacks him, forcing him over the edge of Pride Rock. Believing that he has won, Scar whispers to Simba that it was he who killed Mufasa. Simba, infuriated, leaps up grabbing Scar by the throat, causing Scar to reveal the truth. A fierce battle then rages between the lionesses, Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki and the hyenas ("Simba Confronts Scar").

Simba corners Scar on the top of Pride Rock, where Scar begs for his life blaming everything on the hyenas. In a repetition of Scar's words to cub Simba, Simba tells Scar to run away and never return. Scar, with the thought of Simba killing him, appears to follow this request, but turns quickly and attacks Simba again. Simba though is able to block the attack, making Scar trip and fall over the cliff where the hyenas are waiting below to surround their former leader and kill him.

The battle having finally ended, Simba's friends all come forward and acknowledge Simba as the new and rightful king. Simba climbs to the top of Pride Rock and roars out across the kingdom. The animals all gather at the call of their new king and celebrate ("King of Pride Rock"). Rafiki, Nala and Simba ascend Pride Rock where Rafiki lifts Simba and Nala's newborn cub high into the air to continue the Circle of Life and usher in a new golden age ("Circle of Life (Reprise)").

Theatre tickets to all performances of The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre in London can be purchased securely through this website.

The Lyceum Theatre in London is a 2,000-seat capacity west end theatre located in Wellington Street in the City of Westminster.. There has been a theatre with this name in the locality since 1765, and the present site opened on 14th July 1834 to a design by Samuel Beazley.  The building was unique in that it had a balcony overhanging the circle. It was built by the partnership of Peto and Grissell.

The present building retains Beazley's façade and grand portico, but the theatre behind is substantially different from the 1904 design of Bertie Crewe, restored to theatrical use in 1996 by Holohan Architects, after a long period where it was used as a Mecca Ballroom

The Old Lyceum Theatre was built in 1765 on an adjacent site, and in the late 18th century, musical entertainments were given by Charles Dibdin. Famed actor David Garrick also performed at the Lyceum. Between 1794 and 1809, and the building was also used as a circus, brought by Phillip Astley when his amphitheatre was burned down at Westminster, and then a chapel, a concert room, and for the first London exhibition of waxworks displayed by Madame Tussaud in 1802.

The Lyceum theatre became a "licensed" house in 1809, and until 1812 it was used for dramatic performances by the Drury Lane Company after the burning down of their own theatre. until the erection of the new edifice. In 1816, Samuel Arnold rebuilt the theatre to a design by Beazley and opened it as The English Opera House, but it was destroyed by fire in 1830. The house was famous as the first theatre in London to be lit by gas and for hosting the London première of Mozart's opera Cosi Fan Tutte.  During this period, the "Sublime Society Of beefsteaks" which had been founded in 1735 by theatre manager Henry Rich, had its home at the theatre for over 50 years until 1867. The members, who never exceeded twenty-four in number, met every Saturday night to eat beefsteaks and drink port wine.

In 1834, the present house opened slightly to the west, with a frontage on Wellington Street, under the name "Theatre Royal Lyceum and English Opera House". The theatre was again designed by Beazley and cost £40,000. The new house favoured English opera rather than the Italian operas that had played earlier in the century. Composer John Barnett produced a number of works in the first few years of the theatre, including The Mountain Sylph in 1834, credited as the first modern English opera. It was followed by Fair Rosamund in 1837 and Fannelli in 1839 and Blanche Of Jersey here in 1840. In 1841-43, composer Michael Balfe managed the theatre and produced National Opera here, but the venture was ultimately unsuccessful. From 1844 to 1847 the theatre was managed by husband and wife team Robert and Mary Anne Keeley, during which period the house became associated with adaptations of Charles Dicken's novels and Christmas books. For instance, an adaptation of Dickens' Martin Chuzzlewit ran for over 100 performances from 1844-45 here, which was a long run for the time.

The Lyceum Theatre was later managed by Madame Lucia Elizabeth Vestris and Charles James Mathews from 1847-55, who produced James Planche's "[fairy] extravaganzas" featuring spectacular stage effects. Their first big success was John Maddison Morton's Box And Cox.  Tom Taylor's adaptation of A Tale Of Two Cities with Dickens himself as consultant, played here in 1860, shortly after the end of its serialisation and volume publication Charles Fechter, who managed the theatre from 1863-67 also favored spectacular productions.

Beginning in 1871, under manager Hezekiah Linthicum Bateman and his wife Henry Irving appeared at the theatre in, among other things, many works. by Shakespeare.  Irving began with the French melodrama The Bells, which was an instant hit in which he played the ghost-haunted burgomaster. The piece ran to sell-out crowds for 150 nights, which was an unusually long run at the time. Charles I was another hit in 1872 running for 180 nights. In 1874, Irving played Hamlet at the theatre, perhaps his greatest triumph, running for 200 nights. In 1878, after Bateman's death, Irving took over management of the Lyceum from his widow. The Builder 28th September 1878 reported that there was a difference between Irving and Mrs. Bateman regarding the personnel of the company at the theatre. "Mr. Irving is said to have told Mrs. Bateman that he was resolved to have actors to act with him, and not dolls, otherwise he would no longer play at the Lyceum. The result was that Mrs. Bateman threw up the management of the theatre, and Mr. Irving takes her place." Mrs. Batemanwent on to become the manager of Saddlers Wells Theatre.

Irving continued to star in plays at the Lyceum, especially Shakespeare, until 1902, engaging co-star Ellen Terry for that entire period of 24 years.  Bram Stoker worked between 1878 and 1898 as business manager of the theatre, and Irving was Stoker's real-life inspiration for the character Count Dracula in his 1897 novel.  Stoker hoped that Irving, with his dramatic, sweeping gestures, gentlemanly mannerisms, and speciality in playing the villain in roles, would play Dracula in the stage adaptation of his novel. However, Irving never agreed to appear in the stage version, although the play was produced at the Lyceum.

Irving and Terry began with Hamlet in 1878. Their 1879 production of The Merchant Of Venice which ran for an unusual 250 nights, and success followed success in the Shakespeare canon as well as in other major plays. 

After being bought by Thomas Barrasford, in 1904 the Lyceum Theatre was rebuilt and richly ornamented in rococo style by Bertie Crewe, retaining only the façade and portico of the original building. The theatre presented music hall and variety in an attempt to compete with the Palace Theatre and the London Colliseum but this was not a success, and the theatre soon returned to presenting drama. From 1909-38 the Melville Brothers ran a successful series of spectacular melodramas.  In 1919, additional minor alterations to the theatre were made by Edward Jones and between the wars, dramas played at the theatre for ten months each year, followed by Christmas pantomimes. The Lyceum was the last London theatre to continue the early practise of concluding pantomimes with a harlequinade which was a free standing entertainment of slapstick clowning, juggling and tumbling. The tradition ended with the closure of the theatre in 1939.

In 1939, the London City Council bought the building, with plans to demolish it to make room for road improvement. The theatre closed that year with a landmark performance of Hamlet directed by Sir John Gielgud. The road improvement plans collapsed, and after the war, in 1951, it was converted to a huge ballroom and reopened by Matthews and Sons, as the Lyceum Ballroom Many big bands played here, and the theatre was used as a pop concert venue and for television broadcasts.  Top international bands and artists who appeared at the Lyceum include The Cgrateful Dead, The Clash, Bob Marley Led Zeppelin and the Who to name but a few.

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A proposed redevelopment of Covent Garden in 1968  by the GLC saw the theatre under threat, along with the nearby Vaudeville, Garrick, Adelphi, and Duchess theatres and only an active campaign by Equity, the musicians union, and theatre owners under the auspices of the Save London Theatres Campaign led to the abandonment of the scheme.  In 1973, the theatre gained protection and was Grade II listed.

The theatre went dark in 1986, after the National Theatre's promenade performances (in 1985) of Bill Bryden's adaptation of the Mysteries trilogy. Brent Walker leased the theatre during this time but later gave up his lease, and in 1996 it was restored and reconverted into a theatre for large-scale musicals or opera by Holohan Architects

The Lyceum Theatre has been home to the musical stage show version of The Lion King since 1999. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the production, which has grossed over £289 million and been seen by more than 8 million people, 250 former cast members gathered onstage, together with designer-director Julie Taymor, Prime Minister David Cameron and actor James Earl Jones who voiced the role of King Mufasa in the original Disney film, attended the performance.

Theatre tickets to all performances at the Lyceum Theatre in London are available to book securely through this website