LION KING REVIEW
Rediscover your love of a Disney classic with The Lion King
For anyone who enjoyed Disney films as a child, The Lion King is sure to rank among the all-time favourites thanks to its moving storyline, lavish scenery and evocative soundtrack penned by none other than Elton John.
However, don't just watch the classic film over and over - enjoy it in a whole new way by buying theatre tickets for the West End musical version.
This fantastic show is certain to have you rediscovering your love for Simba, Mufasa and Rafiki, or allowing you to find out what all the fuss was about if you never saw the movie back in the early 1990s.
Its vital statistics are certainly impressive - in just over a decade since it first opened at the Lyceum Theatre, The Lion King has been seen by more than eight million people with an average audience capacity of 93 per cent.
It has welcomed 200 performers during in excess of 4,200 performances and has recorded box office takings of around £500,000 a week from impressed London theatre fans.
Gloria Onitiri, one of the actresses who has played Nala, told the London Evening Standard she thinks the Lion King is consistently popular because people can relate to it.
She pointed out that the story of the prodigal son coming of age and trying to find his rightful place in the world is a universal one, whether you are British, African or another nationality.
The storyline sees Simba plunged in at the deep end of the watering hole following the death of his father King Mufasa, with the distraught cub running away into exile in the mistaken belief that he was responsible.
When he finds out what really happened, he returns to Pride Rock to claim his right to the throne - but his evil uncle Scar has other ideas.
The musical version of The Lion King has been called "a ravishing spectacle" by the Mail on Sunday and "a blockbuster" by the Financial Times, so it is sure to impress anyone who buys theatre tickets to see it..