The iconic musical will come to Bradford for seven weeks from 30 April to 20 June 2020. Tickets go on sale in October 2019 and patrons can sign up for priority access to tickets at either www.thelionking.co.uk or www.bradford-theatres.co.uk from today (Friday 6 September 2019).
The UK cities of THE LION KING tour are exclusively supported by VeryMe Rewards from Vodafone UK. Vodafone customers will be able to access the pre-sale tickets through the My Vodafone app 24 hours before they become available elsewhere, on Friday 4 October 2019.
Over 81,000 people experienced the production across a 7-week, record-breaking season when it last visited the Alhambra Theatre in 2014, the year in which the venue celebrated its 100th anniversary. This year, THE LION KING celebrates an incredible 20 years in the West End. The musical had its premiere in London on 19 October 1999 at the Lyceum Theatre, which remains its home in London.
Adam Renton, General Manager Bradford Theatres, said:
“I am thrilled to welcome this incredible musical back to the Alhambra Theatre next year. It’s an iconic production which audiences in the region will be very excited to see back in Bradford. We’re also especially pleased to be hosting a Relaxed Performance during the show’s residency with us and we are looking forward to welcoming the widest audience possible to enjoy this spectacle.”
Bradford Theatres Friends Members will be able to purchase tickets from 10am on Monday 7 October. Customers who join the Sign-Up Priority List will be able to purchase pre-sale tickets on Thursday 10 October at 10am (online only). Tickets will go on general sale online, by phone and in person from 10am on Friday 11 October, with demand expected to be huge.
While the show is in Bradford, there will be a dedicated Relaxed Performance on Tuesday 16 June 2020 at 5pm. Disney’s THE LION KING is committed to creating a friendly and inclusive audience experience. Having now hosted five Autism-Friendly performances in London, the landmark musical is delighted to be presenting a Relaxed Performance in each city it visits on the tour. Relaxed Performances are specially adapted to be accessible to a wide range of audiences such as those with autism, those with a learning difficulty or other sensory and communication needs, with extra trained staff on hand and dedicated quiet areas inside the theatre should anyone need to leave their seat. All patrons who feel this performance might suit their specific needs are warmly encouraged to attend. Audience members can find out more information at www.bradford-theatres.co.uk/whats-on/the-lion-king.
Julie Taymor’s internationally-celebrated stage adaptation of THE LION KING opened on Broadway in 1997 and 25 global productions have now been seen by more than 100 million people. THE LION KING is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, under the direction of Thomas Schumacher. The show has been performed in nine different languages (English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese), productions of THE LION KING can currently be seen on Broadway, London’s West End, Hamburg, Tokyo and Sapporo, Madrid, Daegu in South Korea and on tour across North America - a total of eight productions running concurrently across the globe. Having played in more than 100 cities in 20 countries on every continent except Antarctica, THE LION KING’s worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway show or other entertainment title in box office history.
The previous tour of THE LION KING broke attendance records across the nation and the 2019/2020 tour coincides with THE LION KING celebrating 20 years at London’s Lyceum Theatre. Since the UK premiere in London on Tuesday 19th October 1999, THE LION KING has entertained more than 16 million theatregoers and remains the West End’s best-selling stage production and the sixth longest-running West End musical of all time.
With a cast of more than 50 singers and dancers, the story of THE LION KING is miraculously brought to life using masks, puppets and striking costumes to tell the story of young Simba's epic adventures as he struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and becoming king. The stunning artistry of the production is the work of a team of designers which drew on diverse cultural influences to recreate the rich colours and vast expanses of the African savanna in this daring and inspiring reinvention of one of the most successful animated films of all time.
Julie Taymor, one of the world’s most innovative directors, brought a vast array of disciplines to THE LION KING including extensive experience staging epic theatre and opera productions, exploring classic myths through ritualised puppetry, mask, and movement. THE LION KING was the first musical Taymor directed in the commercial theatre and she made Broadway history by becoming the first woman to win the Tony Award® for Best Director of a Musical.
The Broadway show’s full creative team, which won five Tony Awards® for its work on THE LION KING, reunited in 1999 to recreate the show in London. Julie Taymor and Michael Curry created hundreds of masks and puppets. Scenic design is by British designer Richard Hudson and lighting is by Donald Holder. Costume design is by Julie Taymor, and choreography by Garth Fagan. The book was adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated feature and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the screenplay.
The original score from the animated film was expanded for the stage and now features 15 musical numbers. As well as writing completely new songs, South African composer Lebo M created an evocative blend of African rhythms and chorales, with additional material by Julie Taymor and Mark Mancina. Elton John and Tim Rice have added three new numbers to the five that they wrote for the award-winning score of the animated film. The resulting sound of THE LION KING is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, including the Academy Award®-winning Can You Feel The Love Tonight and the haunting Shadowland.
Ticket information for Bradford
- VeryMe Rewards by Vodafone pre-sale: Friday 4 October 2019, 8am
- Priority sign up closes: Friday 4 October 2019, 11.59pm
- Bradford Theatres Friends Members: Monday 7 October 2019, 10am
- Disney and Alhambra Theatre Priority On Sale: Thursday 10 October 2019 10am (online only)
- General sale: Friday 11 October 2019 at 10am (online, phones & in person)
Performance information for Bradford
- Previews: Thursday 30 April – Sunday 3 May 2020
- Press Night: Tuesday 5 May 2020, 7.30pm
- Signed Performance: Thursday 14 May 2020, 7.30pm
- Audio Described Performance: Thursday 4 June 2020, 7.30pm
- Captioned Performance: Thursday 11 June 2020, 7.30pm
- Relaxed Performance: Tuesday 16 June 2020, 5pm
- ENDS –
ABOUT THE LION KING
After 21 landmark years on Broadway, and now in 2019 celebrating 20 years in London, THE LION KING continues ascendant as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13th 1997, 25 global productions have been seen by more than 100 million people. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, under the direction of Thomas Schumacher, THE LION KING has made theatrical history with six productions worldwide running 15 or more years.
THE LION KING won six 1998 Tony Awards®: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical. THE LION KING has also earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the 1999 Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design.
The show’s director, costume designer and mask co-designer Julie Taymor continues to play an integral part in the show’s ongoing success. The first woman to win a Tony Award® for Direction of a Musical, Taymor has in recent years supervised new productions of the show around the world.
The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice’s music from THE LION KING animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice; additional musical material by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer; and music from "Rhythm of the Pride Lands," an album inspired by the original music in the film, written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer.
The resulting sound of THE LION KING is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, ranging from the Academy Award®-winning song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” to the haunting ballad “Shadowland.”
The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed THE LION KING animated feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film’s screenplay. Other members of the creative team include: Michael Curry, who designed the masks and puppets with Taymor, Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), John Stefaniuk (associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music supervisor) and Doc Zorthian (production supervisor) and Jill Green Casting CDG (UK Tour casting). Anne Quart serves as co-producer.
For more information on the UK Tour visit thelionking.co.uk
