Journey through ‘the Circle of Life’ at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival
Disney’s The Lion King is celebrating 25 years in the West End in 2024, and to help mark this occasion, the beloved West End musical will be presenting a community garden at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival from 2-7 July, featuring rousing live performances and interactive activities throughout the week to help audiences contemplate their own journey through ‘the Circle of Life’.
Designed by leading garden designer Juliet Sargeant, the garden will be filled with vibrant, drought-tolerant flowers, to reflect the bright colours of Julie Taymor’s design, and dusty red soil will be planted with swathes of resilient grasses to reflect the Pridelands. It will be surrounded by a wildlife-friendly dry hedge, to create a traditional Boma providing a communal meeting place for visitors to enjoy. The ‘Circle of Life’ will be echoed throughout the garden, creating balance and harmony, whilst a large silk ‘sunrise’ will provide a colourful and theatrical boundary focal point.
Climate resilient plants and trees such as Bulbinella frutescens 'Sunset Orange, 'Zanthoxyllum simulans (Szechuan pepper), Kniphofia varieties, Zelkova serrata, Savannah Ruby Grass, and Gleditsia Skyline (Honey Locust) will offer practical, drought-tolerant take-home ideas for show visitors to plant in their own outdoor spaces.
The West End production counts a keen gardening enthusiast among its cast - George Asprey, who has played the iconic role of Scar for 16 years, he takes time out from menacing the lions of Pride Rock to tend to his own peaceful patch of nature, having discovered the passion during the pandemic.
Alongside the West End milestone, the original Lion King film is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and the new Mufasa: The Lion King prequel film is ready to take audiences back to these beloved characters. It’s an ideal time, then, to reflect on these beloved characters and stories in a new space this summer, and the community garden at Hampton Court will provide the perfect place to do so.
Further Information: RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival