The Lion King West End West End Replacement Cast
Set against the majesty of the Serengeti Plains and to the evocative rhythms of Africa, Disney's multi award-winning musical will redefine your expectations of theatre. Brilliantly reimagined by acclaimed director Julie Taymor, Disney's beloved film has been transformed into a spectacular theatrical experience that explodes with glorious colours, stunning effects and enchanting music. Full synopsis
Original
Replacement
Replacements
(Alternate)
(Alternate)
Gesztenye Botos, a talented performer from Budapest, made her impressive West End debut in The Lion King, following a distinguished career with the Hungarian National Opera and a notable third-place finish at the Vienna International Dance Festival and Competition. more...
Luke Baker, known for his versatile performances, has graced the West End stage in productions such as Everybody's Talking About Jamie and American Idiot, and was also part of the cast of The Lion King. more...
(Alternate)
(Swing)
Etian A Almeida, born in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba, brought his extensive dance training from the National School of Arts in Havana to the West End stage, previously captivating audiences in the UK tour of Havana Rakatan. more...
(Swing)
Tiago Sequeira Alves, originally from Brazil, brought his extensive dance training and performance experience to the West End production of The Lion King. more...
(Alternate)
(Alternate)
(Standby)
Moya Angela, an acclaimed musical theatre actress known for her powerful vocals, previously toured with Disney's The Lion King, showcasing her talent in this celebrated production. more...
Curtis Angus, a Millennium Performing Arts graduate, previously performed as an ensemble member and cover for Banzai in The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre. more...
George Asprey, a London-born actor trained at LAMDA, has an extensive theatre background including notable performances in "The Sound of Music" at Sadler’s Wells and on its UK tour, before joining the cast of The Lion King in the West End. more...
(Alternate)
Daniel Bailey, a talented multi-instrumentalist and music director, has an impressive resume including past performances in notable productions such as Million Dollar Quartet and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. more...
Damian Baldet, originally from Chicago and trained at the University of California, San Diego, has notably performed in The Lion King during its North American National Tour and at Mandalay Bay. more...
(Swing)
(Swing)
Zara Aba Bartels, originally from Port of Spain, Trinidad, brought her extensive training from the Caribbean School of Dance, The Ailey School, and E´cole Classique to the West End stage in The Lion King, showcasing her talent honed as a founding member of Metamorphosis Dance Company. more...
(Swing)
Hugo Batista, originally from Recife, Brazil, brought his extensive dance training from the Centre of Dance in São Paulo and Studio De Danca to the West End stage in The Lion King, following notable performances in productions such as High School Musical and Grease during their UK tours. more...
David Blake, originally from St Andrew, Jamaica, brought his extensive dance and acting experience to the West End production of The Lion King, having previously performed in notable shows such as The Nutcracker in California and the US tour of Jesus 2000. more...
(Alternate)
Keith Bookman, a Salford-born actor trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, has an impressive West End resume including roles in "Tonight's The Night" and "The Beautiful Game," and has also appeared in the West End and National Tour of "Les Misérables." more...
Yolanda Burke, a London-born actress trained at Laine Theatre Arts, has graced the stage in The Lion King in Germany and performed at the Aldwych Theatre in the West End. more...
(Alternate)
Arielle Campbell, who graced the stage as part of the ensemble in Disney's The Lion King at The Lyceum Theatre, has a diverse background in theatre, including roles in Mary Poppins' 1st National tour and Hairspray at the Paper Mill Playhouse. more...
Jane Carla Leynes, originally from Manila, Philippines, made her West End debut in The Lion King, having previously performed in the Festival of The Lion King at Hong Kong Disneyland and The Lion King at Shanghai Disneyland. more...
Cleveland Cathnott, a talented actor from St Andrew, Jamaica, who trained at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, brought his diverse performance experience to the West End stage in The Lion King. more...
(Swing)
(Swing)
(Swing)
(Alternate)
(Swing)
Azola Dlamini, a talented performer from Durban, South Africa, made her West End debut in The Lion King, having previously showcased her skills in the production at the Circustheatre in Holland. more...
(Alternate)
Harrison Dock, trained by Deborah Torres Patel and hailing from France, previously showcased his talents in Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. more...
(Alternate)
Zinhle Dube, originally from Durban, South Africa, joined The Lion King London cast in 2016, bringing her vibrant talent to the West End after her successful stint with the UK tour starting in 2013. more...
(Alternate)
(Swing)
Samuel Edwards, who trained at Arts Educational School, made his professional and West End debut in the past with Ghost. more...
William Esau, a talented performer from Namibia trained at the Cape Academy of Performing Arts, has showcased his skills in productions like "Headshots" in South Africa and "Kissing Frogs" at the Grahamstown Festival. more...
Shaun Escoffery, a London-born actor with extensive training from Barking College of Performing Arts, has a rich history in theatre, including a 2008 Olivier Award nomination for his role in "Parade" at the Donmar Warehouse and performances in iconic shows such as "Les Misérables" at Queen’s Theatre and "Mama, I Want to Sing!" at Cambridge Theatre. more...
Gary Forbes, a London native trained at Sylvia Young Theatre School, has an impressive theatre background including the original West End production of Bugsy Malone at Her Majesty's Theatre and a role in the original production of Doctor Dolittle at the Hammersmith Apollo. more...
(Swing)
Irene-Myrtle Forrester showcased her versatility in Disney Theatrical Productions' The Lion King, where she served as a swing and understudy for the roles of Rafiki and Shenzi. more...
(Swing)
Callum Francis, who has an impressive array of credits including Disney's THE LION KING in the West End, made history by playing the role of Lola in KINKY BOOTS across three continents and five different companies. more...
(Swing)
Joanna Francis, a Jamaican-born actress trained at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, previously graced the stage in The Lion King West End, bringing her extensive experience from notable productions such as The Harder They Come and Carmen Jones. more...
Darcel Frederick, originally from Kingstown, Saint Vincent, brought her extensive dance training from York University and prestigious programs like the Ailey School Summer Intensive to the West End production of The Lion King. more...
(Swing)
Ian Yuri Gardner, a versatile performer and creative professional, showcased his talents in Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway, contributing to the show's rich legacy with his extensive experience in stage entertainment and vocal performance. more...
(Alternate)
(Swing)
Sandile Gontsana, hailing from Cape Town, South Africa, made his West End debut in The Lion King, following his performances in the show's Australian tour. more...
Aiyana Goodfellow, known for her roles in Invasion (2021), The Outlaws (2021), and Small Axe (2020), has previously graced the stage in The Lion King West End. more...
(Alternate)
Serena Grant, a talented performer from Chadwell Heath, Essex, who trained at Colin's Performing Arts School and Agency, previously showcased her skills in productions such as "Can't Stop The Beat" and "Aladdin" at the Queens Theatre. more...
(Alternate)
Andile Gumbi, a talented South African actor, dancer, singer, and model, was celebrated for his portrayal of "adult Simba" in Disney's long-running musical "The Lion King" on both Broadway and The West End. more...
Thabo Gwadiso, hailing from Johannesburg and known for his television work on Afro-Cafe, has showcased his vocal talents in The Lion King West End, drawing from his extensive experience collaborating with prominent South African artists. more...
(Alternate)
(Swing)
(Alternate)
(Swing)
(Swing)
Jacquelyn Hodges, a Syracuse University alumna from Flint, Michigan, has showcased her talents in the West End's production of The Lion King, having previously graced Broadway with her performances in The Lion King and Ragtime. more...
Jonathan Andrew Hume, who has previously graced the stage in The Lion King at both the Lyceum Theatre and Sands Theatre in Singapore, brings a wealth of experience from his diverse career in theatre, film, television, and voiceover work. more...
(Swing)
Waylon Jacobs, a versatile London-based performer, has showcased his talents in numerous productions, including a notable past performance in The Lion King. more...
Aisha Jawando, who once graced the stage of the Lyceum Theatre in The Lion King, is currently captivating audiences as Tina Turner in Tina The Musical. more...
(Alternate)
(Alternate)
Gemma Knight Jones, a versatile London-based singer and actress, previously captivated audiences with her performance in The Lion King on the West End, among other notable musical theatre productions. more...
Gary Jordan, a talented actor and musician from Southampton, England, has an impressive theatre background, including performances in renowned productions such as "Grease" and "West Side Story," and was once part of the vibrant West End scene with his role in "The Lion King." more...
(Alternate)
Amelia Monét Kennedy, a London-born actress trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, previously brought her talents to the West End stage in The Lion King. more...
Arthur Kyeyune, originally from Ottawa, Canada, was part of the original Toronto cast of The Lion King, bringing his extensive training and diverse performance background to the celebrated production. more...
(Standby)
Garry Lake, a versatile performer trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, has showcased his talent in various notable productions, including the West End hit "We Will Rock You" at the Dominion Theatre. more...
(Swing)
Tramaine Lamy, originally from Trinidad, made her West End debut in The Lion King after an impressive career that included winning the 2009 Cacique award for best female performer in a musical for her role in Beauty and the Beast. more...
(Swing)
Mitch Leow, who has an extensive background in both theatre and television, including performances in "Turandot" at the Royal Opera House and "Madam Butterfly" with ENO, was part of the cast of The Lion King in the West End. more...
Wade Lewin, who trained at Millennium Dance 2000 and has an extensive background in theatre, television, and film, brought his versatile talents to the West End production of The Lion King. more...
Brian James Leys showcased his versatility in Disney's The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre, where he performed as part of the ensemble and served as an understudy for both Mufasa and Banzai. more...
(Swing)
Oliver Lidert, who has graced the stage in The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre, boasts an impressive background with a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of the Arts and an MA in Music Theatre from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. more...
(Swing)
Francisco Lins, originally from Recife, Brazil, made his West End debut in The Lion King, bringing his diverse training from São Jose do Rio Preto Ballet and Centro de Danca Jaime Arôxa to the stage. more...
(Swing)
(Swing)
(Alternate)
Ingrid Mackinnon, originally from Toronto, Canada, showcased her diverse talents in the West End production of The Lion King, bringing her extensive dance experience from companies like Tavaziva Dance Company and Dallas Black Dance Theater to the stage. more...
(Alternate)
(Swing)
Stephen Matthews, born in Newport, Isle of Wight, has an extensive theatre background, including notable performances in productions such as Les Misérables at the Palace Theatre and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast on its International Tour. more...
Scott Maurice, a London-born performer, brought his extensive experience from shows like "Fame" and "Thriller Live" to the West End production of "The Lion King." more...
Shelley Maxwell, who showcased her talents in the West End production of "The Lion King," has an extensive theatre background, including award-winning choreography for "Equus" at the British Black Theatre Awards 2019. more...
(Alternate)
Sadia McEwen, a London-born performer with extensive experience in UK tours such as The Soul Legends and The Magic of Motown, made her West End debut in The Lion King. more...
Alan McHale, originally from County Mayo, Ireland, made his West End debut in The Lion King, following an extensive theatre career that includes the UK tour of the same production. more...
(Alternate)
Tahj Miles, known for his role as Trainee Officer Marlon Pryce in the BBC series Death in Paradise, was also part of the cast of The Lion King in the West End. more...
(Swing)
Brown Lindiwe Mkhize, originally from Durban, South Africa, was part of the original Amsterdam company of The Lion King, showcasing her extensive theatre experience and diverse talents. more...
(Swing)
Sello Molefi, originally from Kroonstad, South Africa, showcased his talents in The Lion King across Sydney, Melbourne, Shanghai, and Johannesburg, bringing his international experience and rich training background to the production. more...
(Swing)
Aaron Morgan, a Wolverhampton native and Urdang Academy graduate, previously showcased his diverse talents in the West End production of The Lion King, bringing his experience as an accomplished gymnast and backing singer to the stage. more...
(Swing)
(Swing)
(Alternate)
(Alternate)
(Alternate)
Melissa Nettleford, who previously performed in The Lion King at both the Lyceum Theatre in London and in Hamburg, brings a wealth of experience from her diverse theatre background. more...
Sifiso Ngiba, originally from South Africa, has showcased his talents in various international productions, including a notable performance in the South African workshop of The Lion King. more...
Nteliseng Nkhela, who previously captivated audiences in the Hamburg company of The Lion King, brings her talents to the West End stage, following notable performances as Miriam Makeba in The Journey and Brenda Fassie in Memeba. more...
(Swing)
Nosipho Nkonqa, hailing from Cape Town, South Africa, made her West End debut in The Lion King after performing in the show's productions across Holland, South Africa, Taiwan, Singapore, and the UK tour. more...
Thenjiwe Thendiva Nofemele, hailing from Bloemfontein, South Africa, made her West End debut in The Lion King, having previously performed in the production in South Africa, Taipei, and Germany. more...
(Swing)
(Swing)
Kella Panay, a London native and accomplished dancer trained at prestigious institutions like the London Studio Centre and English National Ballet School, brought her extensive experience from shows such as "Porgy and Bess" and "Bombay Dreams" to the West End production of The Lion King. more...
(Alternate)
(Alternate)
Amma Ris made a memorable West End debut as Young Nala in The Lion King, showcasing her talent in a production that captivated audiences more...
(Swing)
Caroline Rovina, originally from Kota Kinabalu, North Borneo, Malaysia, has showcased her diverse talents across various productions, including her notable performance in the West End's "The Lion King." more...
(Alternate)
Liani Samuel, known for her roles in Black Widow, Hard Sun, and Home by 8.30, was a standout performer in the West End production of The Lion King. more...
(Alternate)
Kenyah Sandy's acting career took off when he landed his first role as Young Simba in The Lion King in London's West End. more...
(Alternate)
Curtis Lee Scott, trained at The Oldham College, has graced the stage in notable productions such as Hairspray at the Shaftsbury Theatre and international runs of We Will Rock You and Chicago in Spain. more...
(Alternate)
Luciano Santos Souza, originally from Bahia, Brazil, has previously graced the stage in productions of The Lion King in Shanghai, São Paulo, and Paris, making his West End debut with the show. more...
Carole Stennett, a London-born actress trained at Vocal Tech and the University of North London, previously showcased her talents in "The Legend of The Lion King" at Disneyland Resort Paris. more...
(Standby)
David Stoller, a London-born actor trained at the University of Hertfordshire, has an impressive theatre resume that includes performances in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria and Les Miserables at the Queens Theatre. more...
Antoine Murray Straughan, who trained at The Urdang Academy of Performing Arts, previously performed in the ensemble and as the understudy for Ed in The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre. more...
(Alternate)
(Alternate)
Thulisile Thusi, originally from Richards Bay, South Africa, has previously captivated audiences in The Lion King during its West End and UK and Ireland tour runs. more...
Sebastien Torkia, who played Ed in the West End production of The Lion King, has an extensive theatre background including notable roles in The Little Beasts, The Wild Party, and Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. more...
(Alternate)
Wreh-Asha Walton, a Nottingham-born actor trained at NCN Clarendon, Vocaltech Vocal School, and Identity Drama School, has showcased her talents in various national tours and English Touring Theatre productions, and also performed in the past as part of The Lion King West End cast. more...
(Swing)
Craig Williams, a talented actor from Luton, Bedfordshire, who trained at The Urdang Academy, showcased his versatility in the West End production of The Lion King. more...
(Alternate)
(Swing)
Karlene Wray, a Leeds native trained at Intake Drama School and Roehampton University, has graced the stage in productions such as "The Harder They Come" at Theatre Royal Stratford East and Playhouse Theatre, and "Carnival Messiah" at Harewood House, West Yorkshire Playhouse, and Trinidad. more...
Momo Yeung, who has showcased her talents in productions such as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and The Sandman, previously graced the West End stage in The Lion King. more...
Danielle Young, a London-born actress trained at Millennium Performing Arts, has an impressive theatre background, including roles in productions such as "Cats" at the Larnaca Festival in Cyprus and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at the Adelphi Theatre, showcasing her versatility before joining the cast of The Lion King in the West End. more...
See awards and nominations on the The Lion King West End page
Other productions of The Lion King West End
- 1997 Broadway — Original Broadway Production · Cast
- 2002 US Tour — National Tour · Cast
- 2003 Chicago — Chicago Production · Cast
Production Team
Michael Curry Mask Designer
Puppet Designer
Robert Elhai Orchestrator
Garth Fagan Choreographer
Bruce Fowler Orchestrator
Donald Holder Lighting Designer
Richard Hudson Scenic Designer
Tony Meola Sound Designer
David Metzger Orchestrator
Fraser Skeoch Musical Director
Julie Taymor Puppet Designer
Mask Designer
Costume Designer
Director
Michael Ward Hair Designer
Make-Up Designer

