Lion King on Castors and Wheels Tours the UK
One of the best loved Disney musicals has begun its first ever United Kingdom national tour this year. Previously based in London at the Lyceum theatre this hit musical, telling the storey of the Disney classic film, has been seen by over ten million people.
One of the best loved Disney musicals has begun its first ever United Kingdom national tour this year. Previously based in London at the Lyceum theatre this hit musical, telling the storey of the Disney classic film, has been seen by over ten million people. The tour, taking the whole cast costumes sets and scenery on castors and wheels starts in Bristol and will then go on tour to ten cities in the UK and Ireland over the next two and a half years. The tour has been four years in the planning, and the logistics of moving such a massive show has been meticulously planned.
The Lion King Doors first opened in the capital in 1999 with phenomenal success, and last year during 2011, saw this musical production breaking the industry record for the highest annual gross box office in West End history. We had the pleasure of seeing this musical last month, at the Lyceum and we were all astounded by the visual feast of costumes, sets and scenery. As you may be aware the last time I encountered a Disney production at Universal studios, I had to admit to being fascinated with the castors and wheels which made this production move with ease. The same again happened during the Lion King! It seems I just can’t help myself, from the revolving mountains to the elephant graveyard, the castors and wheels used are specifically required by production companies for their silent, non-marking maneuverable properties. Now the show is on a National tour, the flight cases to move the scenery were also specifically designed on rubber wheeled castors, to ensure ease of movement, noise reducing castors and their non-marking properties.
It seems the Lion Kings success is not just a British phenomenon, it is also global. Most recent figures suggest that over sixty million people around the world have been thrilled with this musical performance from Broadway to Vegas. One of the set designer’s main problems was representing the expanse of the African plains and Savannas on stage. With the clever use of perspective, and maneuverable sets on castors and wheels, the designers have allowed the audiences to use their imaginations to be thrilled by the show. This seemed to be a common theme as costume designers use only a lion mask and tail to represent the main characters. The rest is down to the movement and the presence of the actors and the audience’s belief. Combining this with the sets and the scenery on castors and wheels makes the show one to remember!
From the first animated film in 1994 to the hit musical on Broadway in 1997, to a 3D version of the film launched in 2011, the Lion King brand grows from strength to strength. The theatre production has won six Tony awards, including best musical, and the UK tour will now enable residents of the United Kingdom to enjoy this magical production. Hopefully audiences won’t even notice the castors and wheels which prop up the stage production and enhance the fluid motion of the sets and scenery!
