INTERVIEW: Shaun Escoffery & George Asprey, both celebrating 15 Years in the London production of The Lion King

Since opening in 1997, 24 global productions of The Lion King have been seen by more than 100 million people in over 100 cities in 20 countries, on every continent except Antarctica, and its worldwide gross exceeds that of any entertainment title in box office history and is the West End’s best-selling stage production and the sixth longest-running West End musical of all time.

Shaun Escoffery and George Asprey, who play Mufasa and Scar in Disney’s The Lion King in the West End, both celebrated their 15th anniversary in the landmark production, making them the longest-serving performers in the roles in any production of The Lion King respectively.

We were fortunate enough to catch up with them about the journey they have both been on in this mammoth West End show. 

Firstly, a massive congratulations on your 15th anniversary in The Lion King. How does it feel to have reached this huge milestone? 

George Asprey: Slightly surreal. It’s not a case of celebrating longevity because you only ever take one song at a time. It’s more like an accumulation because you’re only ever as good as your last show but now all of a sudden we've had fifteen years of the show. 

Shaun Escoffery: It’s a wonderful honour. I look back at myself and my partner in crime George with fondness and gratitude. We never dreamed we’d be doing this show for fifteen years. I feel extremely lucky to be able to do something we love with consistency. We are both aware of the huge responsibility that we have. 

COMING HOME: Shak Gabbidon-Williams, currently in The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre

Pocket Size Theatre and Liza Heinrichs (Captured by Liz) have teamed up again and created our new series 'Coming Home'. In this new piece, we look at the reopening of Theatres in London and around the country and celebrate our industry coming back. We got together some performers who will be some of the first to return to theatres and created this piece to bring some positivity to the theatre industry which has been through one of the toughest years in our lifetime. Whilst it is important to acknowledge the hardships we've all gone through, it's important we pull together as a community and celebrate our beloved industry finally coming back! 

The Lion King still remains to be one of the top family and tourist favourites not only in London but all around the world. This live theatrical experience of the 1994 Disney film has stood the test of time as it enters into its 22nd year in London this Autumn. With productions worldwide this is one of Disneys true success stories and with its UK tour relaunching in October at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, it's sure to reclaim its position as one of the top shows in the world. 

Shak Gabbidon-Williams is no stranger to the show. Having previously appeared in the production at the Lyceum Theatre as a child playing Young Simba, he returns to the London company now as an adult in the ensemble and also covering the role of Simba. His other credits include Marvin Gaye and covering the role of Berry Gordy in Motown the Musical on tour and playing Seaweed in the touring production of Hairspray. 

COMING HOME: Angela Marie Hurst, soon to open in The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre

Pocket Size Theatre and Liza Heinrichs (Captured by Liz) have teamed up again and created our new series 'Coming Home'. In this new piece, we look at the reopening of Theatres in London and around the country and celebrate our industry coming back. We got together some performers who will be some of the first to return to theatres and created this piece to bring some positivity to the theatre industry which has been through one of the toughest years in our lifetime. Whilst it is important to acknowledge the hardships we've all gone through, it's important we pull together as a community and celebrate our beloved industry finally coming back! 

Disney is a huge producer of massive spectacular theatrical productions which are remembered by those who see them for the rest of their lives. One of their most successful shows is The Lion King. Having run in the West End’s Lyceum Theatre since 1999, on Broadway since 1997 and with countless productions all over the world, it is not only one of Disney’s biggest theatre success stories but it's a huge phenomenon in the theatre world.

Since the show has been running for such a long time, it's come to the time where those who were in the show as children are now old enough to feature in the cast as adults! Angela Marie Hurst is one of them! Back in 2001 she played Young Nala in the production and now returns to the show as an adult in the ensemble of the show and understudying the role of Nala. Prior to appearing in the show when it reopens at the Lyceum Theatre on the 29th July 2021, Angela was part of the West End productions of Tina - The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre and Motown at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

10 of the Best Theatre related Guinness World Records!

Longest theatre performance - individual

The longest marathon theatre performance by an individual lasted 110 hr 46 min and was achieved by Adrian Hilton (UK) when he recited the complete works of Shakespeare in a 'Bardathon' at the Shakespeare Festival, South Bank, London, UK between 16-21 July 1987. Adrian's chosen spot on the South Bank was the location of the original Globe Theatre.

Most expensive theatre production

“Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark”, the musical based on the legendary comic superhero, is the most expensive production in the history of the theatre. As of 14 June 2011, the show’s record cost climbed to $75 million, the largest investment ever for not only a Broadway production but for the West End or anywhere in the world where there has ever been a stage.

Highest-grossing Broadway show

As of the week ending 1 March 2020, Disney’s The Lion King had grossed $1,680,389,582 (£1,310,480,000) since opening on Broadway in October 1997. A total of 15,696,974 seats have been sold for the musical across 9,292 performances (including 33 previews). It is now the third-longest running show on the Great White Way, behind the 1996 revival of Chicago and 1988's The Phantom of the Opera.

10 Long running shows that didn't win Best Musical at the Oliviers

Chicago

The original production of Chicago in 1979 lost out on the Best Musical Award to Songbook. However the revival did win Best Musical revival in 1998. The original production ran for 600 performances at the Cambridge Theatre. The show was also nominated in two other categories at the 1979 Olivier Awards; Antonia Ellis (Roxie) for Best Actress in a Musical and Ben Cross (Billy Flynn) for Best Actor in a Musical. However The Awards went to Virginia McKenna (The King and I and Anton Rodgers (Songbook).

Starlight Express

This long running show at the Victoria Apollo ran for 7,409 performances over 18 years. The show is currently the ninth longest running West End show in History and remains the Apollo Victoria Theatres longest running show. The musical lost out on the Best Musical Award to 42nd Street in 1984. Lon Satton, who played Poppa in the original London production, was also nominated for Best Actor in a Musical but the award went to Paul Clarkson for The Hired Man.

THE LION KING celebrates 15 years in London on Sunday 19th October

On Sunday 19th October Disney’s THE LION KING will celebrate its 15th anniversary at London’s Lyceum Theatre. The award-winning musical has entertained over 12 million theatregoers and remains the West End’s best-selling stage production. It also recently became the sixth longest-running West End musical of all time.

To celebrate this milestone and to thank Londoners for embracing and supporting the show, Disney today gave away 1500 tickets to the anniversary performance on Sunday 19 October. Over 1000 theatregoers queued at the Lyceum Theatre to claim a pair of tickets for this Sunday’s performance.

Congratulating the production, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson says: “Congratulations to The Lion King whose long-run has contributed to the phenomenal success of London theatreland. From the bright lights of the West End, to the dozens of smaller theatres to be found across the city, it's a hugely important sector for our economy, generating more than £600 million last year and underlining London's status as one of the world's greatest cities for culture.”

The Lion King welcomes its 12 Millionth visitor!

This week, Disney’s award-winning musical THE LION KING welcomed its 12 millionth visitor at London’s Lyceum Theatre. The show will celebrate its 15th anniversary in October in London, where the show remains the West End’s best-selling stage production. Tickets are currently on sale until 29 March 2015.

Winning over 70 theatre awards worldwide, this captivating stage production follows the adventures of the young lion cub Simba, as he struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destined role of King.

Julie Taymor’s internationally celebrated stage adaptation of Disney’s beloved animated film premiered on Broadway in 1997 and has now been seen by over 70 million people across six continents. In addition to the record-breaking productions in London and New York,The Lion King can currently be seen in Hamburg, Madrid, Tokyo, Sao Paulo, Sydney and on tours around the UK, North America and Japan. Recently announced future productions include Mexico City and Shanghai Disney Resort.