Spectacular Lion King Dress Rehearsal
ARMS Unit and Years 3–5 Enjoy Spectacular Lion King Dress Rehearsal
16th and 17th June 2026
Pupils from our ARMS Unit and Years 3, 4 and 5 recently had the wonderful opportunity to attend the dress rehearsal of The Lion King at Orley Farm School as part of the school’s celebrations for its 175th anniversary.
On 16th June 2026, pupils from our Nebula ARMS Unit were invited to watch the rehearsal and were kindly collected by minibus from Orley Farm School. The children were completely immersed in the experience and thoroughly enjoyed the performance. One pupil described the show as being “like a movie”, with many others agreeing that it felt as though they were watching a film come to life on stage.
On 17th June 2026, approximately 180 pupils from Years 3, 4 and 5 attended the rehearsal. From the vibrant costumes and impressive set design to the outstanding singing, acting and choreography, the production captivated the audience from beginning to end. Many pupils commented that it felt just like watching a professional West End production.
The outdoor setting added to the magic of the occasion and created a memorable experience for everyone involved.
Following the performance, Orley Farm School were exceptional hosts, generously providing refreshments for both pupils and staff. The warm welcome and kindness shown throughout the visit were greatly appreciated.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone at Orley Farm School for inviting our pupils to be part of this special celebration. The experience created wonderful memories and inspired many of our children.
Congratulations to the entire cast, crew and staff on an outstanding production and a fantastic way to celebrate 175 years of Orley Farm School.
What Our Pupils Said
“Thank you, Orley Farm School, for inviting us to watch The Lion King*. My favourite character was Simba because he was the main character.”*
– Noah
“The show was fantastic and my favourite character was Mufasa.”
– Retaj
“I loved the part where King Mufasa held Simba. I also liked the song ‘Hakuna Matata’. It was so funny. The show was incredible.”
– Umaiza
“This was my first ever time watching The Lion King*. It was really realistic.”*
– Iman
“I enjoyed how realistic Scar was. Little Simba was so adorable. Thank you for inviting us and for the popcorn and juice.”
– Year 4 Pupil A
“I loved the show so much because it was very realistic. My favourite characters were Simba and Mufasa.”
– Raul
“The show was glamorous and I liked the scene when Simba stood up to Scar.”
– Year 4 Pupil B
“My favourite character was Pumbaa because of his sense of humour and I’ll probably never forget the show.”
– Year 4 Pupil C
“My favourite part was when Simba defeated the hyenas, and my favourite character was Simba. We had a great time.”
– Year 4 Pupil D
Pupil Reflections
The performance clearly made a lasting impression on our pupils. Many commented on the realistic costumes, talented actors and memorable songs, while others spoke about their favourite characters and dramatic moments from the show. Simba, Mufasa, Scar and Pumbaa were particularly popular, and several children described the production as feeling just like a real theatre performance. The experience was one that our pupils will remember for a long time to come.