Owen Chaponda and Merryl Ansah will soon be stepping into the iconic roles of Simba and Nala in Disney’s The Lion King as it continues its hugely successful West End run at London’s Lyceum Theatre. Both actors have previously appeared in The Lion King as part of the ensemble and as understudies for the principal roles.
“It’s incredible to be coming back,” says Owen. “I feel so lucky to be returning to this dream job,” agrees Merryl. Both Owen and Merryl have been performing from a young age, though Merryl almost took up a career in Accounting and Management, “ultimately, I’m glad that’s not the path I went down,” she laughs.
Owen can remember the first time he auditioned for The Lion King, “I had just graduated, and the whole process was crazy, but strangely I was even more nervous auditioning this time round, because I really was desperate to play Simba.”
Merryl felt less nervous, “It felt a bit like coming home, I knew all the faces in the room and that took the edge off.” Owen agrees that the team were encouraging and supportive, and when his agent told him he had landed the part, the first thing he did was send a message on the family WhatsApp group chat, “my mum FaceTimed me straight away and just started crying, I don’t think I’ll ever forget that moment.”
So, what is it about Simba and Nala that made the pair so keen to land the roles? “Oh, Nala is just incredible,” says Merryl, “she has to take on this leadership role, she’s the one that steps up. She’s got a fair sense of loyalty and feels this sense of responsibility to her fellow lionesses and people in the Pride Lands, like she really fights for her people.”
“For me, it’s Simba’s journey,” says Owen, “I can really relate to his journey in terms of his father, in terms of love, in terms of loss, in terms of grief. I think he’s got such a beautiful arc throughout the whole show.”
“I think it’s an inspiring character for kids to watch, because Simba is this kid who is exploring himself and figuring out who he is, and then he goes through this journey of self-discovery.”
“Absolutely!” says Merryl, “I am definitely inspired by watching the show, and seeing Nala and Simba’s journey, and Nala being a fighter, but also getting to see the more vulnerable side of her when she falls in love with Simba.”
“These characters give so much hope,” adds Owen, “and I think that’s what’s special for us about being able to play these roles. Every single night when people come to watch the show, they’re able to leave with a sense of hope, and I think that’s pretty exciting.”
Despite both Owen and Merryl having appeared in the show previously, they’ve never had the chance to work together until now, “I think already, we’ve got quite a strong rapport with each other, and I’m really excited to get to explore the characters and see what we both bring to it,” says Merryl, “having both done it before, and having the history with it, we’re both coming in with a certain level of understanding, and what we need to deliver in these portrayals of the characters. I think doing that together will be really cool.”
“Yeah, Merryl is so gifted and talented,” says Owen, “I think since we left, we’ve learned so much about ourselves, so I’m excited to see how we can push each other to be the best we can be.”
As we sit down to speak, Owen and Merryl are just at the start of their new journey with The Lion King, Owen has just stepped out of a wig fitting, and both agree that it’s when they get to wear the costumes and make-up that it will start to feel real, “it’s the triangle they paint on us,” says Owen, “there’s just something about that triangle that makes you feel all powerful.”
“The look is so iconic,” says Merryl, “and the costumes and masks are so beautiful, the detail in them is just so incredible, as soon as you wear them, you somehow are able to just engulf yourself in the role very easily.”
Being very familiar with the show, Owen and Merryl already know their favourite moments, “it has to be ‘The Circle of Life’,” says Merryl, “I think it sets the tone of the show, there’s no other word for it, it’s really magical. In terms of the song I most love to perform, it has to be ‘Shadowland’.”
Owen agrees that ‘The Circle of Life’ is a highlight of the show, “but my favorite song to perform is ‘He Lives In You Reprise’, that’s when Simba kind of realises who he is and what he needs to do, I just feel so elevated when I sing it.”
Owen and Merryl are excited to be taking on their new roles from May, and hope audiences will be keen to come and see them, “come for the story,” says Merryl “because everyone knows the story, or at least a bit of it, but then stay for the beautiful music, and getting to hear that live. Also, the choreography is absolutely stunning, sometimes I look at those dancers and I’m like, I don’t know how you’re able to do that every single night!”
“I think it’s the perfect escape,” says Owen, “I think The Lion King is really great at that, it’s a show that is just so beautiful and so moving, it allows you to just escape from your day-to-day life and be engulfed in this beautiful piece of music and art.”
Owen Chaponda and Merryl Ansah will will begin performances on Tuesday 9 May 2023.
