Simba Impresses in Sydney Lion King Production

22 December 2013 – South Auckland-born Nick Afoa, 27, makes a “fine musical theatre debut as the adult Simba” in an Australian musical production of Disney’s The Lion King. Afoa, “moves with the exuberant grace of youth and is a promising singer,” reviewer Deborah Jones writes for the Australian.

“Since its opening in 1997, The Lion King has been justly loved for its spectacular and inventive uses of puppetry, dance and African-inflected music. It is cemented as one of Broadway’s most popular shows and exists in 10 productions around the world.”

Afoa, a former New Zealand rugby junior and social worker, was a soloist for the Rugby World Cup Choir who performed the national anthems (for their respective countries) at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

The Lion King is on through 8 June 2014 at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre.