The Lion King.

Hello everyone. Happy New Year.

If you follow me on Instagram (@katelovesliterature) then you will have seen on my grid that yesterday I had the pleasure of going to see The Lion King at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin. The show was stunning and I can’t think of a better way to kick of a new year than a day at the theatre.

As I said in my Instagram caption, I feel very lucky and grateful that I was able to attend the show as I know that sadly many people have to miss out due to new restrictions but I was lucky to fall into the first come, first served category. I have to take a moment to show my appreciation for the cast, the crew, and the staff at the Bord Gáis because despite all the new restrictions and all the rearranging that they have had to do, they delivered an incredible performance. The theatre was spotless as always, the staff were so kind and helpful, everything was really well organised, and I can’t say enough good things about the evening.

I am now going to take a moment to talk about the show itself. I have seen The Lion King once before, I went to see it the last time it came to the Bord Gáis in 2013. When I found out it was coming to Dublin again I bought tickets asap. We are all living through really strange times at the moment, things are changing all the time, we are living with restrictions and disruptions, and I know that at times I get anxious about everything that is going on, as I’m sure many people do, so that is why I think there was something really special about getting to see The Lion King on New Year’s Day. It was the first day of 2022 and for two and half hours there were no worries, the outside world melted away, and I was at the theatre, seeing an amazing show. It was emotional at times, it was fun, it was colourful. The show is simply an artistic masterpiece. The sets are incredible, the costumes and the makeup and the puppetry that is used is so unique and it creates the most incredible visuals onstage. I think that The Lion King is a very immersive show because of the way it is staged, the actors use their entire bodies to convey their characters. The dancing is energetic and lively, the entire ensemble looks amazing at all times because they are portraying different animals and aesthetics and at times the ensemble even add to the scenery. I think that this show is an amazing example of how creativity and artistry work to tell a beautiful story.

The cast received a standing ovation and it was well deserved. The cast, the crew, the creative team, the orchestra, everyone who is involved in bringing The Lion King to life onstage deserves every ounce of praise they receive because the show is something special and I don’t think I have seen anything else like it onstage. It had to be a challenge bringing an animated story to life onstage but they mastered the challenge. I would easily go and see this show again tomorrow if I could.

The music in the show is beautiful. Of course there are the classic songs that everyone knows and loves from the animated movie such as “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King.” and “Can You Feel The Love Tonight.” There are also new songs that have been created for the stage version, and they add a new layer of depth to the show. I think one of my favourite moments had to be when Nala sings “Shadowland.” because it is a beautiful, powerful song and it allowed Nala to showcase what a strong character she is.

A stand out moment has to be when “Circle of Life.” is brought to life onstage. This song is so many things, it is uplifting, it is powerful, it is joyous, and it is poignant because in the circle of life, there are highs and lows, gains and losses, happiness and grief, but we are all connected and the song combined with how it is performed onstage by the entire cast is incredibly moving.

I highly recommend going to see The Lion King if you get the chance to do so. It is a magical show, the plot is compelling, it is not “just for kids”, it is bright, colourful, energetic, heartfelt, and very moving and I guarantee that if you went to see it, you’d have an amazing time.

This has been a Theatre Trip post because as you all know, I love talking about the theatre. I am very lucky to live in Dublin as we have so many wonderful theatres here, and I am lucky to be able to go to places such as the Bord Gáis to see so many fantastic shows.

Happy New Year everyone. I wish you all a happy and healthy 2022.

Onwards and upwards we go.

Kate xo.