DISNEY’S award-winning stage production of The Lion King will be staged at the Liverpool Empire next month.

The show will be staged at the city centre venue from May 16 to July 5 as part of its record-breaking UK tour.

Based on the Academy award-winning film and four years in the making, it tells the compelling tale of Simba, the young lion cub, as he journeys through life and struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destined role of King.

Stephen Croker is a member of the show's creative team and told the Globe he was excited about bringing the production to Liverpool.

He said: “Liverpool will be the eighth city on the tour. For the show to be finally playing in Liverpool means the demand and enthusiasm is still there.

“It’s a massive show. I think audiences will expect something they have never seen before. It’s one of those shows that could run and run on tour.

“It’s certainly one of the biggest selling shows in the West End and the biggest I’ve been involved in.”

The touring production features a truly international cast of more than 50 actors, singers and dancers, from 17 different countries, supported by a backstage team of more than 100 people.

It features a cast of 56 hundreds of masks, puppets and more than 700 elaborate costumes representing 26 different types of animal, 21 giant trucks are used to transport everything across the country.

The stage adaptation of Disney’s 1994 film was first seen on Broadway in 1997, where it recently became the highest grossing show in Broadway history.

The production has now been seen by more than 65 million people across five continents.

The acclaimed West End production continues to sell out at London’s Lyceum Theatre in its 14th triumphant year.

Stephen said: “It’s one of the biggest casts ever assembled for a show. Because we have productions all over the world we have singers from all over the world.

“The characters and all of these elements are what keeps drawing in new audiences.”

The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice’s music from The Lion King animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice; additional musical material by South African Lebo M.

Stephen said: “Tim and Elton wrote three new songs for the stage show and are very much involved in the project.”

Tickets for the Liverpool Empire are from the Theatre box office on 0844 871 3017 or www.thelionking.co.uk