THE
LYON KING

The story

One engineer. One pride. One very long poker game.

Young Lyon is heir to nothing in particular. When his treacherous Uncle John cheats him out of his seat at the Flamingo's high-stakes table, Lyon flees into deep space in disgrace, owing a sum of money the show declines to specify.

Out in the void he falls in with a hydroponics technician and a cargo drone, who teach him the ancient philosophy of Hakuna Gravium: no worries, no refining permits.

Years later a mysterious figure of indeterminate rank (John) arrives to tell Lyon that the pride needs him. Mostly because the ship needs field repairs, and nobody else knows where the coolant isolation valve is.

Lyon must return, face his past, and take back his rightful place: second from the left, holding the torch, while somebody else does the talking.

Cast and crew

• LyonLt. Robert LyonAs himself, but weaker
• Uncle JohnJohn
• Young LyonJohn (aged 9)
• The HyenasJohn, John and John
• Mysterious figureJohn
• Any animal whatsoeverNot picturedOn legal advice
• NalaBaltar
• Directed byJohn Director
• Music and cateringDJ Lyon's Ballistic Bakery
• LightingThe Void Illuminators

Original cast recording

Songs from the show

1. Circle of StrifeFull company4:51
2. I Just Can't Wait to Be PromotedYoung Lyon (John)2:52
3. Be Prepared (for Field Repairs)Uncle John and the Hyenas3:40
4. Hakuna GraviumA technician and a cargo drone3:33
5. Can You Feel the Hull Breach TonightLyon, with damage control2:57
6. He Lives in Xanadu (On Credit)DJ Lyon's Ballistic Bakery5:01
7. Chow Down (Bakery Remix)DJ Lyon's Ballistic Bakery3:12
8. Endless Night ShiftLyon, in engineering, alone4:20
9. ShadowlandThe Void Illuminators, who forgot the lights3:58
10. The Madness of King JohnUncle John3:03
11. Double You (Capital Mix)Hidden track. The roar, as spelled out in the surtitles by someone who had given up0:02

A deluxe edition is in preparation. Song parodies welcome at stopit@thelyonking.co.uk. The bar is low.

Did you know?

Production notes

• The roar is a recording made in a ship's mess that used to be the engine room. The acoustics never left.
• Lyon's understudy is John. So is John's.
• The cast recording has a hidden track, in the old tradition. Keep listening after the end.
• The stampede uses four thousand decommissioned cargo drones and one very confused shuttle pilot, eight shows a week.
• The show runs 88 minutes, or 2 hours 40 with the poker scene in act two, which the director refused to cut.
• No Sol-system animals were harmed in the making of this production, because none were involved and nobody in the company could say what one looked like.