This is Plymouth -- CAN you feel the love (tomorrow) tonight? It's at the Theatre Royal Plymouth, where 1,300 adoring fans will be welcoming The Lion King. The biggest theatre production ever to tour Europe begins a record-breaking run at the city venue tomorrow, Thursday, January 30. The arrival of the huge Disney production is a coup for the Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP), which is smaller than the other venues on the UK tour. Credit goes to the city theatre's close relationship with Sir Cameron Mackintosh, producer of Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera. "Economically it does not make sense for them to bring the show here," said Adrian Vinken, the theatre's chief executive. "Normally such a big show would not play venues with fewer than 2,000 seats. "But they needed a home for this period and Sir Cameron said, 'if you have to play a place under 2,000, you should play the Theatre Royal Plymouth'." A stampede for tickets for the show means only a few singles are left during the stay, which extends to nearly seven weeks. Most seats were booked long before the giant production rolled into the city. Mr Vinken added: "We're delighted that The Lion King is opening. "This particularly large production has never before played in such an intimate auditorium so our audiences will enjoy a really special experience. It promises to be one of the most memorable theatrical events in the theatre for many years." Twenty-three lorries were needed to bring the 250 masks and puppets and 700 costumes into Plymouth. The cast includes South African singer and actor Gugwana Dlamini whose connection with The Lion King dates from 1994 when she performed on the soundtrack of the original film. She has played Rafiki, the mandrill, since 2002. "The show is a joy to do every day," she said. "Everything you give to the audience you get back from them." The Lion King is based on the 1994 animated film tale of a big cat's struggles to live up to his birthright on the plains in Africa. The stage version has music by Sir Elton John and lyrics by Sir Tim Rice. The hit songs include Circle Of LIfe, Hakuna Matata and Can You Feel The Love Tonight? Performances begin tonight. The official opening is on Tuesday, February 4 and the run ends on March 15.
Reported by This is 6 hours ago.
This is Plymouth -- CAN you feel the love (tomorrow) tonight? It's at the Theatre Royal Plymouth, where 1,300 adoring fans will be welcoming The Lion King. The biggest theatre production ever to tour Europe begins a record-breaking run at the city venue tomorrow, Thursday, January 30. The arrival of the huge Disney production is a coup for the Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP), which is smaller than the other venues on the UK tour. Credit goes to the city theatre's close relationship with Sir Cameron Mackintosh, producer of Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera. "Economically it does not make sense for them to bring the show here," said Adrian Vinken, the theatre's chief executive. "Normally such a big show would not play venues with fewer than 2,000 seats. "But they needed a home for this period and Sir Cameron said, 'if you have to play a place under 2,000, you should play the Theatre Royal Plymouth'." A stampede for tickets for the show means only a few singles are left during the stay, which extends to nearly seven weeks. Most seats were booked long before the giant production rolled into the city. Mr Vinken added: "We're delighted that The Lion King is opening. "This particularly large production has never before played in such an intimate auditorium so our audiences will enjoy a really special experience. It promises to be one of the most memorable theatrical events in the theatre for many years." Twenty-three lorries were needed to bring the 250 masks and puppets and 700 costumes into Plymouth. The cast includes South African singer and actor Gugwana Dlamini whose connection with The Lion King dates from 1994 when she performed on the soundtrack of the original film. She has played Rafiki, the mandrill, since 2002. "The show is a joy to do every day," she said. "Everything you give to the audience you get back from them." The Lion King is based on the 1994 animated film tale of a big cat's struggles to live up to his birthright on the plains in Africa. The stage version has music by Sir Elton John and lyrics by Sir Tim Rice. The hit songs include Circle Of LIfe, Hakuna Matata and Can You Feel The Love Tonight? Performances begin tonight. The official opening is on Tuesday, February 4 and the run ends on March 15.
Reported by This is 6 hours ago.