Disney have announced full casting for the UK and Ireland tour of their landmark musical The Lion King, including a first look at their new Simba played by Stephenson Ardern-Sodje. 

After having a career behind the scenes at ITV’s Coronation Street's story room and with Idris Elba’s production company Green Door Pictures, Stephenson Ardern-Sodje made his stage debut in the very first West End cast of Hamilton and is currently part of the Globe Theatre 2021 tour. 

New cast members include Nokwanda Khuzwayo as Nala, Alan Mchale as Timon, and Owain Rhys Davies as Ed, with returning principals Matthew Forbes as Zazu, Jean-Luc Guizonne as Mufasa, Richard Hurst as Scar, Rebecca Omogbehin as Shenzi, Thandazile Soni as Rafiki, Carl Sanderson as Pumbaa and Simon Trinder as Banzai.

The tour re-opens in Dublin in December before visiting Bristol, Bradford, Cardiff, Southampton and Manchester, with further cities to be announced in due course.

The UK & Ireland tour cast also includes: Lwando Bam, Mamido Bomboko Souchu, Khanyisani Beato, Jorell Coiffic-Kamall, Rushand Chambers, Tau-En Chien, Elisa Chou, Tevin Daniel, Tim Driesen, Oraine Frater, Adebunmi Gabriel, Brian Gilligan, Daniel Griffith, Alicia Hayward, Zalika Henry, Caleaf Henson, Olivia Jones, Melvin Le Blanc, Jochebel Maccarthy, Zanele Mazibuko, Fallon Mondlane, Zanele Ndlovu, Buhle Nkomo, Craig Pedro, Joaquin Pedro Valdes, Connor Pelé Williams, Tara Price, Kyle Richardson, Cristiane Santos De Jesus, Lukin Simmonds, Sherry Tay, Francesca Thompson, Maria Yim and Bukiwe Zinganto.

For more information and to book tickets for select venues, please click here.