Lion King to tour UK for first time

Disney this morning announce plans for a UK tour of its smash hit stage musical of The Lion King, based on its 1994 animated film.

Julie Taymor's famous puppet-based production, which was a major departure for Disney stage adaptations of its films, opened on Broadway in 1997 and has been running in London for more than twelve years where last year it broke the record for the highest annual gross box office receipts on the West End.

The UK tour will begin at the Bristol Hippodrome in September before spending Christmas at the Palace Theatre in Manchester with other dates yet to be announced. The 52-strong company will visit ten cities in the UK and Ireland over a period of two and a half years.

Tickets will go on sale for Bristol from 22 February and for Manchester from 27 February.

Reporter: David Chadderton

Dateline: 6th February, 2012