The Lion King Jr.: A Journey to Pride Rock

The Stage and Beyond Trust brought The Lion King Jr. to the stage from 11th to 14th June 2026 at C.U Shah Jain Bhavan, Loresho. The production was presented as a musical adventure set in the African savannah, following young Simba's journey from a carefree cub to a brave leader.

At the heart of the production were themes of identity, responsibility, courage and the journey toward discovering who we are meant to become. The story's idea of the Circle of Life also highlights how individuals are connected and how their actions can have consequences beyond themselves.

“Theatre teaches discipline, teamwork, empathy, and confidence— lessons that extend far beyond the stage.”

A Journey of Young Artists

The production brought together young performers who took on the challenge of transforming themselves into lions, zebras, gazelles, birds, elephants and hyenas through movement, music and storytelling. Their work focused not simply on portraying animals, but on capturing the spirit, energy and rhythm of life in the Pride Lands.

According to the production acknowledgments, the journey included a year of professional theatrical training for 25 talented youth at the Hope and Shine Center in Kibera, alongside more than 50 other talented young people from Nairobi and beyond who devoted the last six months to the production while balancing school, work and home responsibilities.

A Production Built by Many Hands

Bringing Pride Rock to life required a broad creative and production team. The programme credits Mitchel Sommers as Executive Producer, Kevin Kimani as Producer, Benson Ngobia as Co-Producer and Michael Mwangi as Director. Gabriel Muloki served as Musical Director, Oscar Mwalo as Choreographer, Nancy Aluoch as Production Designer, and Judy Mwaura as Stage Manager.

The production also involved acting, choreography, set design, styling, construction, lighting, sound, photography, videography, social media, web development, graphic design, front-of-house, ticketing and community support. Together, these contributions demonstrate the collaborative nature of theatre.

Theatre That Goes Beyond the Stage

The director's note describes the production as a celebration of collaboration, with every costume, musical note, dance step and stage moment representing the collective effort of performers, choreographers, musicians, designers, technicians, parents and supporters.

The acknowledgments also reflect on the transformative power of theatre. The production team describes theatre as a way of building confidence, communication skills, work ethic, responsibility, empathy and the joy of working with people who may be different from oneself.

In this sense, The Lion King Jr. was more than a stage production. It was a space where young people could develop their talents, work together and experience the discipline and creativity that theatre demands.

Thank You to the Community

The production programme extends special thanks to parents and guardians for their time, financial support, resources, ideas, volunteering and constant encouragement. It also acknowledges partners and supporters including Equity Bank, Lucas Rapela, KCA University, Kenya National Theatre, Andy Nicole of Lintons Academy, Ann Mwangi, Jack the Puppeteer, Yuri Wambyakaley, Delight Fashion School, Daniel Mutiso and Mercy Angwachi.

The Lion King Jr. journey is a reminder that when young people are given an opportunity to create, collaborate and take responsibility, the stage can become a place for growth far beyond the performance itself.

Welcome to the Circle of Life.