The award-winning stage production of Disney’s The Lion King is coming to Scotland for the first time.
The smash-hit musical will play a three-month season at the Edinburgh Playhouse later this year. The run at the city’s Greenside Place venue will be the only Scottish dates in the show’s UK tour.
Based on the animated film of the same name from 1994, the production tells the story of Simba, a lion cub, as he struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destined role of king.
The stage adaptation hit Broadway in 1997 and has gone on to be seen by 65 million people around the world.
The musical, which tells the tale through song, dance and puppetry, is the biggest musical production ever to tour the UK, theatre bosses said.
Four years in the making, the international production brings together a cast of around 50 actors, singers and dancers from 17 countries, supported by a backstage team of around 100 people.
The touring production, directed and co-designed by Julie Taymor, is visiting 10 cities in the UK and Ireland over two-and-a-half years.
Fiona Thomas, vice-president of live entertainment at Walt Disney Company EMEA, said: “We are so excited to be bringing Julie Taymor’s legendary production of The Lion King to Scottish audiences for the first time.
“Edinburgh seemed the perfect city to host this truly international production, given its long tradition of drawing audiences from across the country and around the world to experience its arts festivals.
“There is also no theatre more suited to the epic scale of The Lion King than the majestic Playhouse Theatre.”
The performances begin on Saturday October 12 and tickets go on sale on Wednesday.