Perhaps one of the most well known Disney films, The Lion King brings people from across the world together.
“I can’t believe that’s my life” exclaims Thenjiwe Thendiva Nofemele, who has played Rafiki on London’s West End since 2021.
Getting to open the show every night never gets old for Thenjiwe, who previously was part of The Lion King’s Germany cast for 11 years, where she played Shenzi and Rafiki.
Thenjiwe’s journey with The Lion King began almost 17 years ago back in South Africa, where she performed with a fully South African cast. She then travelled with the show to Asia before coming ‘home’ to Germany and then London.
“Representing my family, representing my ancestors.. It’s such a great honour and I’m so proud to do that most nights of my life” says Thenjiwe, who opens The Lion King every night with the iconic ‘Circle of Life’.
Thenjiwe is joined by her castmates; Shaun Escoffery, George Asprey and Merryl Ansah, who play Mufasa, Scar and Nala, respectively.
Along with backstage team members; Head of Masks & Puppets, Joseph Beagley and Master Carpenter, Andrew Todd.
“It’s what happens backstage… the excellence. You truly don’t understand the craftsmanship and the artistry that goes [into] it.” explains Shaun Escoffery on what it takes to keep the magical nature of The Lion King alive.
Having worked on the show for many years Joe and Andy are a large part in helping to maintain the show’s stability. Not just regarding London over the years, but across the world.
We’re informed that “associates” of the show travel to various locations to ensure complete continuity, so that The Lion King in Brazil looks just like The Lion King in Japan (aside from a difference in languages).
Yet, of course, with every year comes new technological advancements, such as 3D printing but yet some things stay the same to once more keep the dream alive.
“Everything else is still natural materials and carbon fibre” (backstage we get to see the hand painted puppets worn by some of the cast, zebras, lions, the enormous elephant) explains Joe.
Going to other shows “is like stepping into a parallel universe” he remincises as he goes on to talk about some of the troubles he’s encountered in his twenty years at The Lion King.
Nothing crazy, but the job requires constant maintenance of costumes which Joe and his team oversee. For example, the puppet of Zazou (Mufasa’s feathered friend and advisor), is created from hand cut feathers made from parachute silk, which is then hand painted. Maintenance of masks and puppets takes place when the relevant actor is on holiday, so usually they’ll return to a freshly refurbished costume.
George Asprey, is another castmate who sings high praises to the behind the curtain team. Playing Scar his mask is rigged up to mechanics that help the mask seem more life-like, occasionally these mechanics malfunction and George is always in awe of how quickly these issues are resolved.
George and Shaun serve as long running cast members of The Lion King’s West End, both racking up over fifteen years each on the stage as Scar and Mufasa respectively.
This is in direct contrast to Merryl who joined the show for a year in 2019 as part of the ensemble cast and an understudy to Nala.
“Getting to walk down the aisle and be face to face with audience members … seeing kids climb over each other to touch the costumes.” Merryl returned to the show last year taking up the mantle of Nala.
It’s a sort of “spiritual satisfaction” remarks Shaun on the feeling of getting to encounter The Lion King.
“... In as much as the show has given so much to the people out there it gives so much to us as well…I’ve had my daughter within the show and I’ve lost my dad within the show, and this is the one show that saved me” finalises Thenjiwe.
You can celebrate 25 years of Disney’s The Lion King by seeing the production at West End’s Lyceum Theatre.
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