Shaun Escoffery and George Asprey play Mufasa and Scar in Disney’s The Lion King in the West End, and have just celebrated their 15th anniversary in the landmark production, making them the longest serving performers in the roles in any production of The Lion King respectively.
The show has had its home in the West End for more than two decades, and next year will celebrate 25 years in London, where the production has been seen by over 18 million people.
Since opening in 1997, 24 global productions of The Lion King have been seen by more than 100 million people in over 100 cities in 20 countries, on every continent except Antarctica, and its worldwide gross exceeds that of any entertainment title in box office history and is the West End’s best-selling stage production and the sixth longest-running West End musical of all time.
The story of The Lion King roars into life using spectacular masks, puppets and costumes to tell the story of Simba’s epic adventures, as he struggles with the responsibilities of adulthood and becoming king.
Congratulations on your fifteen year anniversary, how does it feel to have reached this milestone?
Shaun Escoffery: It’s a wonderful honour. I look back at myself and my partner in crime George with fondness and gratitude. We never dreamed we’d be doing this show for fifteen years. I feel extremely lucky to be able to do something we love with consistency. We are both aware of the huge responsibility that we have.
George Asprey: It feels surreal as I never imagined we’d be here together after so many years. It’s not even a case of celebrating longevity because you only ever take one song at a time. It’s more like an accumulation because you’re only ever as good as your last show. We have no divine right to play Scar and Mufasa so we have to be as good as what’s out there. We’re doing the show that we love with the people that we love and I can’t quite believe it’s been 15 years.
It’s quite unusual to remain in a West End cast for so long, what do you put your longevity down to?
George Asprey: Definitely the role of Scar. I think Scar is probably the greatest Disney villain ever created. He’s so clever and witty. I love not only my role but the whole artistic experience of the stage show which continues to surprise me.
Shaun Escoffery: First of all, I love the show, love the music and love the character of Mufassa. I also love the cast members and the company. I love working with George – my best friend – and we actually train Jiu Jitsu together. In short, I just love everything about the show and my heart is firmly here and will be for the foreseeable future…
You must know your characters quite well by now! What do you enjoy most about the roles?
Shaun Escoffery: I love playing Mufasa and I still feel like there is so much about him that I’m yet to explore. When you’ve been playing a role for a number of years like we have, you can go back and readdress things and try something different. We have a beautiful burden playing these characters, and people spend money to come and see the show. They don’t care that we’ve done five shows that week – this is their first time and we always keep that at the forefront of our minds. We have a standard of professionalism that we take seriously. But we’re always trying to renew and find different aspects of the characters.
George Asprey: It’s a huge privilege to be able to play a character like Scar who has so many layers and after all these years you can really delve into the psyche of the character which is so much fun to explore. It’s great having the freedom of knowing the character so well, as you can play around with the little things and nuances. Occasionally, you’ll come up with something after fifteen years and ask yourself, why it’s taken all this time to explore that.
What’s your favourite memory from the last fifteen years?
Shaun Escoffery: Coming back after COVID was really incredible and emotional for everyone. George and I have discussed many times that when you’re sharing a stage with somebody it’s an intimate thing, it’s hard to describe. Once we got together and saw everyone again for the first time after that long, it was spiritual, emotional, it was relief, gratitude- it was all of these things. You realise just how important your fellow colleagues are, and how important theatre is to us and the people coming to see the show. We forget the impact that it has on people.
George Asprey: Seeing Shaun again after COVID. That first show back was extraordinary. The bond created between those on stage and those in the auditorium was just immense. And it was a physical manifestation of reality coming back to normal.
How will you be celebrating this special anniversary?
Shaun Escoffery: We’re going to be celebrating together of course and go out for a burger!
George Asprey: Initially I was just going to put up an Instagram post but we’ve been completely blown away by everyone’s reaction. The Lion King did an amazing video for us which has had the most incredible reactions. And Shaun and I will definitely celebrate together.
What would you say to anyone thinking of coming along to see The Lion King?
Shaun Escoffery: There really is something in it for everyone. The story seems to transcend languages and cultures and age groups. Alongside that you have the pure spectacle of it all – the music and the harmonies and the costumes and the colours – it’s something special. You can’t pigeon hole it as any one thing, it stands alone. It’s a masterpiece.
George Asprey: It’s such a fusion of different styles and it appeals to someone of every age group on a different level, from the spectacle through to the story. So come and see it because once you see it, you’ll never forget it!
