THIS IS LONDON SEPTEMBER EDITION 2025 copy - Flipbook - Page 6
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director Julie Taymor and her team
37,000 hours to build the original
puppets and masks.
There are 25 kinds of animal species
represented in the production, with the
longest animal being the elephant at 4
metres long by 3.5 metres high and 2.75
metres wide. The tallest animals are the
5.5 metre giraffes in the song ‘I Just
Can’t Wait to be King’ and the smallest
animal in the show is the 13 cm trick
mouse at the end of Scar’s cane.
Disney made theatrical history with
the opening of The Lion King in 1997,
which received six 1998 Tony Awards
including Best Musical and Best
Director, Julie Taymor, who became the
first woman in Broadway history to win
the award.
For tickets, visit the website at
www.thelionking.co.uk or telephone the
Box Office on 0844 871 3000.
The Lion King © Disney
DISNEY’S THE LION KING
CELEBRATES 25 YEARS IN LONDON
‘THERE IS SIMPLY NOTHING ELSE
LIKE IT’ – New York Times
Disney’s award-winning musical, The
Lion King, explodes with glorious
colours, stunning effects and enchanting
music. It follows the powerful story of
Simba, as he journeys from wide-eyed
cub to his destined role as King of the
Pridelands. Now in its 26th year at
London's Lyceum Theatre, director Julie
Taymor’s acclaimed reimagining of
Disney's beloved film continues to
redefine a generation’s expectation of
theatre.
The Lion King is famous for the use
of puppetry, with the animals even
entering the audience at some points in
the show. There are more than 232
puppets, including rod puppets, shadow
puppets and full-sized puppets. It took
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OUR TIME: AMICI DANCE THEATRE
This October, Amici Dance Theatre
Company presents Our Time at the Lyric
Hammersmith Theatre – a moving tribute
to its late founder, Wolfgang Stange.
Conceived in the final year of his life, this
powerful new work blends love, history,
and legacy into a single, unforgettable
performance.
At its heart, Our Time is inspired by
Wolfgang’s lifelong partnership with Sri
Lankan artist George Beven. It follows the
story of two men whose love spans five
decades, set against the backdrop of
major global events – from the Cold War
to the LGBTQ+ rights movement. With
Amici’s signature mix of dance, theatre,
circus, and live music, the piece is both
intimate and epic.
Wolfgang Stange, who passed away in
December 2024, was a pioneer in
inclusive dance. Born in post-war Berlin
and trained in London, he founded Amici
in 1980 with a vision to unite disabled
and non-disabled performers. Over four
decades, his work explored themes of
conflict, identity, and resilience. His belief
that ‘dance belongs to everyone’ remains
central to Amici’s ethos.
Completed after Wolfgang’s death, Our
Time is directed by Michael Vale and
choreographed by Elaine Thomas, with
music by Nao Masuda. It coincides with
Amici’s 45th anniversary, marking a
bittersweet but hopeful milestone.
Our Time is more than a farewell – it’s
a celebration of inclusion, creativity, and
the enduring power of art to heal and
unite. Our Time runs from 22–25 October
at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. For
tickets, visit the website at www.lyric.co.uk
www.til.com
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