This isn’t a sponsored post.
BrumHour saw Disney’s Hercules and Disney’s The Lion King at the invite of Disney on Stage.
Disney on Stage also very kindly covered the cost of transport to London and dinner and a hotel.
By Dave Massey
Experience: Disney’s Hercules and Disney’s The Lion King in London’s West End
As you can imagine, I jumped at the opportunity to see not one, but TWO Disney on Stage theatre productions in London’s West End last month. To be invited to both Disney’s Hercules and Disney’s The Lion King is fantastic, and I really wasn’t going to say no.
The first of the two Disney on Stage shows I saw (with my plus one) was Disney’s Hercules at the glorious Theatre Royal on Drury Lane. This is a stunning historical theatre that I’ve checked out previously on days out in London. It features, a wide foyer with crazy high ceilings, plus there is an elegant bar to the right (Prince’s side) and a fun gift shop to the left (King’s side). Available are all manner of Disney’s Hercules items from bags to badges and bottles. Upstairs, there are high balconies and a very circular theme going on.
The auditorium of the theatre is split across four levels: stalls, Royal Circle, Grand Circle and Balcony, each level has increasingly steep seating. To the left of the Royal Circle is the King’s Box, which offers its own Butler service experience. After having the QR code on our tickets scanned (these can either be printed at home or shown on a phone) We sat in the centre of the stalls, and our view was excellent.
Hercules is sent to Earth by his Uncle Hades and told he can never return to the gods and his parents, Zeus and Hera. He is watched over by a chorus of Muses. Can he prove himself and return to the gods?
I didn’t know Disney’s Hercules, and getting to see this production was my first experience of it until Go The Distance appeared, which was the only song/number I knew previously. With bold staging and huge rotating columns, the audience feels really close to the action in this story. There are plenty of costume changes to look out for and even some quick change moments to spot. This a fun family friendly production and well worth a matinee or evening trip to London.
The next day, we found ourselves just two streets over at The Lyceum Theatre on Wellington Street, for Disney’s The Lion King. This ATG venue has been home to The Lion King since 1999, with only a forced break for the pandemic to interrupt its long run.
The outside of this theatre is stunning and really reminds you what a great experience arriving in the West End really is, bag checks were swift and ticket scans fast too. And then we were in the theatre. This has stalls, a Royal Circle and a Grand Circle providing more than two thousand seats. Up the first flight of stairs is a large Lion King Disney Store, with clothing and gifts available to purchase before the show begins (and probably at the interval).
Inside the sweeping auditorium, the space feels closer to the action as the seating almost curves back in on itself from the sides.
During the performance, the performers themselves walk through the audience with the animal character puppets, vividly crafted. This features plenty of huge well-known songs. The Circle of Life, Hakuna Matata (Swahili for no worries!) I Just Can’t Wait to Be King, Can You Feel the Love Tonight, Be Prepared, plus the delightfully powerful, He Lives in You.
Stunning costumes and a wonderfully large moving set complete the West End experience of The Lion King, and even at the matinee, the vocals made me tear up.
As I imagined, a visit to London’s West End is a proper treat for anyone, adults and children alike, so anyone who is lucky enough to have this experience will get to enjoy these fun bold productions.
Book tickets to Disney’s Hercules, which is at Theatre Royal Drury Lane here: herculesthemusical.co.uk and Disney’s The Lion King which is at The Lyecum here: thelionking.co.uk.
The train to London Euston took eighty minutes each way from Birmingham New Street and cost £17.50 in advance. These two theatres are just over thirty minutes walk from London Euston.
