Go Live Theatre has partnered with John Lyon’s Charity to present a special sold-out relaxed performance of Disney’s The Lion King for more than 2,000 children and young people.
Taking place at the Lyceum Theatre on Wednesday 4 November 2026, the event has been made possible through a special one-off grant awarded to Go Live Theatre by John Lyon’s Charity as part of the organisation’s 35th anniversary celebrations.
The performance will welcome school pupils from nine boroughs across North and West London and has been specially designed to support a wide range of access needs.
As part of a shared commitment to inclusion and accessibility, the performance will feature BSL interpretation, captioning and audio description, creating an environment suitable for children and young people with disabilities, neurodivergence, sensory sensitivities and other access requirements.
The initiative aims to ensure that children and young people from all backgrounds can experience live theatre, with tickets heavily subsidised to just £10. Demand has been so strong that the performance is already completely sold out and has generated a substantial waiting list.
In addition to this special event, Disney continues to offer accessible performances of The Lion King throughout the year.
Dr Lynne Guyton, CEO of John Lyon’s Charity, said: “For 35 years, John Lyon’s Charity has invested in opportunities that help children and young people thrive. We are proud to celebrate this anniversary by giving more than 2,000 young people the chance to experience the magic of theatre, as access to the Arts is incredibly important to JLC. Theatre has the power to spark imagination and bring people together, and we believe every child should have the opportunity to enjoy these experiences regardless of their background or circumstances.”
Sita McIntosh, CEO of Go Live Theatre, said: “We are honoured to have been chosen as the charity partner by JLC to collaborate on this special, relaxed performance of The Lion King ensuring that children from SEND schools and all those with access needs are included and catered for. We believe that theatre is for everyone and events like this make that possible.”
Since its beginnings as Mousetrap Theatre Projects in 1997, Go Live Theatre has enabled more than 275,000 children and young people to experience live theatre, working particularly with those from disadvantaged and vulnerable backgrounds who may otherwise face barriers to participation.
The charity is committed to inspiring the next generation of audiences and theatre-makers through theatre visits, workshops and educational programmes.
Go Live Theatre presented the first relaxed performance of a West End production in 2012 with Shrek the Musical. Since then, the organisation has delivered accessible performances for shows including Hamilton, The Devil Wears Prada, Sister Act, Wicked, Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker!, 101 Dalmatians, The Play That Goes Wrong and MAMMA MIA!.
More information can be found here.
