The West End production of Disney’s The Lion King will welcome several new cast members to the hit musical at London's Lyceum Theatre beginning May 6.
Stephenson Ardern-Sodje, seen in the U.K. and Ireland tour as Simba, will again step into that role in the West End through September 28. (Hope Maine, who also previously played Simba, will subsequently take over the role, continuing through January 25, 2026.)
Ardern-Sodje's other theatrical credits include the Young Vic production of Passing Strange, Hamilton (Victoria Palace Theatre), Once on This Island (Regent’s Park Theatre), Starter for Ten (Bristol Old Vic), and Rock Follies (Chichester Festival Theatre).
Purchase The Lion King memorabilia in the Playbill Store.
Also joining the cast May 6 will be Pierre van Heerden as Pumba and Sadia McEwen, who is currently playing Sarabi in the London production, as Shenzi. They will join current principal cast members George Asprey as Scar, Shaun Escoffery as Mufasa, Thenjiwe Nofemele as Rafiki, Gary Jordan as Zazu, Alan McHale as Timon, Merryl Ansah as Nala, Jorell Coiffic-Kamall as Banzai, and Mark Tatham as Ed.
New members of the ensemble cast will include Solomon Gordon, Reece McKenzie, Candida Mosoma, Nicholas Nkuna, Andrew Parfitt, Jessica Reeve, and Rochelle Sherona.
The Lion King began its stage life in October 1997 at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre, before transferring to the Minskoff, where it continues, in June 2006. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, The Lion King won six 1998 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The show’s director, costume designer, and mask co-designer, Julie Taymor, was the first woman to win a Tony Award for Direction of a Musical; she continues to supervise new productions of the show around the world.
The international hit musical 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 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and
Best Costume Design.
Watch: International Casts of The Lion King Perform Multilingual 'Circle of Life'
The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice’s songs 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 book was adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film’s screenplay.
The Lion King, which made its U.K. premiere in 1999, celebrated its 25th anniversary this past October.
Visit TheLionKing.co.uk.
