I went to see Disney’s The Lion King at Bristol Hippodrome - and it’ll leave you mesmerised

No doubt, Disney’s The Lion King UK tour, which is at Bristol Hippodrome until July 1, will leave you mesmerised.

Set against the majesty of the Serengeti Plains and to the evocative rhythms of Africa, the musical follows the story of Simba on his adventure to fulfil his dutiful role as the King of the Pridelands.

Producers Peter Schneider and Thomas Schumacher left no stone unturned. The visuals, including the costumes, lighting, set and choreography were jaw dropping. After the opening number ‘The Circle of Life’ the audience was left in complete awe. One audience member even remarked ‘I would have got my money’s worth if that was the end of whole show’. This feeling of amazement only grew as the show went on.

Notably, characterisation of Rafiki by Zodwa Mrasi brought warmth, humour and energy to the stage. This was coupled with her vocals which oozed character and made her performance stand out.

Some of the other lead vocalists were a little quiet at times and lacked projection. There were moments when this caused the pace of the performance to drop which really juxtaposed the energetic commitment to the choreography.

The band were expectional. The decision to place percussionists in the stage right and stage left boxes really exemplified the all encompassing sound of the African inspired rhythms and syncopation. You could really sense the energy in musical director Matt Abrams as he conduced the band with flare and confidence.

It is worth mentioning that the Bristol Hippodrome staff really made the experience. They were dedicated, passionate and professional in delivering their services to the audience.

Disney’s Lion King is at the Bristol Hippodrome until July 1.