Disney's The Lion King, the long-running West End musical with Elton John's music and Julie Taymor's puppetry, is in its 27th year at the Lyceum Theatre.
Disney's The Lion King is still running at the Lyceum Theatre in Covent Garden, and it's now in its 27th year there. It's one of the longest-running musicals in British theatre history, with nearly 9,000 UK performances under its belt. In the West End, it ranks as the seventh longest-running show; on Broadway, it's the third. The story is the one you know: Simba's journey to become king, and it's recommended for ages six and over, with children under three not permitted.
Julie Taymor directed the production, and it was the first show to earn a woman a Tony Award. Her staging is what most people remember: the puppetry and costumes that turn the stage into the African Pridelands. She uses a 'double event' design, which lets you see the performer and the animal character at the same time. There are more than 232 puppets, 50 actors and over 40 musical instruments involved, including traditional African drums like the djun djun and djembe. Elton John wrote the music, Tim Rice the lyrics, and Hans Zimmer the Oscar-winning score. It's played in more than 100 cities across every continent except Antarctica, and over 114 million people have seen it worldwide.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in London and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
Performances run Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30pm, with matinees at 2:30pm on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The running time is approximately two hours and thirty minutes, including an interval. The Lyceum is at 21 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7RQ.
