THE LION KING – meet the cast! (Part 1)

Brown Lindiwe as 'Rafiki' (photo by C Ashmore, 2005)

NOW PLAYING AT CAPITOL THEATRE, SYDNEY FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED SEASON!
Seen by over 70 million people, Disney’s landmark musical event THE LION KING is a worldwide phenomenon that will redefine your expectations of theatre.
Brilliantly re-imagined by acclaimed director Julie Taymor, Disney’s beloved film is transformed into a spectacular theatrical experience which has won over 70 major international theatre awards.
Set against the majesty of the Serengeti Plains this breathtaking production explodes with glorious colours, stunning effects and unforgettable music including Elton John and Tim Rice’s Circle of Life, Hakuna Matata and the Academy Award winning Can You Feel The Love Tonight?
At it’s heart us the powerful and moving story of Simba, the wide-eyed cub who undertakes an epic journey to fulfil his destiny as King of the Pridelands.
TODAY we meet some of the principal cast members!
Josh Quong Tart (Scar)
Josh Quong Tart (Scar)

Born and raised in Sydney, Josh graduated from NIDA in 1997. He has worked extensively in theatre and television, most recently in the Nine Network telemovies The Great Mint Swindle, Underbelly: Badness, the ABC comedy series The Elegant Gentleman’s Guide to Knife Fighting and US series The Starter Wife. A descendent of prominent Chinese Australian Mei Quong Tart, Josh is best known for his long-running role as Miles Copeland on the Seven Network series Home and Away and playing Matt Horner on All Saints. Josh was the original host of Nickelodeon’s children’s show Sarvo. He is the youngest of four brothers and is an accomplished singer. He and his brother Byron Tart featured alongside Genevieve Lemon in the acclaimed cabaret show Lemon Tart in 2006 and 2007. He has also appeared in the Wharf Revue – Red Wharf, Our Town, Troopers, Mother Courage & her Children, and The Miser for the Sydney Theatre Company, The Mirage and La Dispute for the Directory, Rope for Tamarama Rock Surfers, Killer Joe for B Sharp, This Lime Tree Bower for the Ensemble Theatre and Romeo and Juliet for Bell Shakespeare Company.



Rob Collins (Mufasa)



Rob Collins (Mufasa)


Born and raised in Darwin, Rob helped oversee the National Indigenous Music Awards since its inception in 2004 and for the past three years has co-hosted them. He was also the National Indigenous Representative for the Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA). Rob has been studying at NIDA since 2011 and makes his professional stage debut in THE LION KING. He played the role of Othello at NIDA in 2012.
Buyi Zama (Rafiki)
Buyi Zama (Rafiki)

Buyi is a proud Kwa-Mashu, Durban, South Africa native. After performing in the West End production of THE LION KING Buyi created the role of Rafiki in Australia, earning a 2004 Mo Award for Best Female Music Theatre Performer of the Year and a Best Female Actor nomination in the 2004 Helpmann Awards. Buyi has further performed in productions of THE LION KING in Las Vegas, Taiwan, South Africa, Shanghai and throughout the US on THE LION KING national tour and is currently performing the role of Rafiki on Broadway.



Cameron Goodall (Zazu)



Cameron Goodall (Zazu)
A graduate of Flinders Drama Centre in 2000, Cameron has worked extensively in theatre, including for Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Brink Productions and Queensland Theatre Company. He is a founding member of The Border Project and was a member of STC’s permanent ensemble, The Residents, during which time he featured in Under Milkwood, A History of Everything, The White Guard, The Mysteries, The Comedy of Errors, Hamlet, Money Shots and Accidental Death of An Anarchist. He has been nominated for several awards, including Helpmanns for Best Actor (Hamlet) and Best Supporting Actor (The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?) and received the Adelaide Critics Circle Award for individual excellence. An accomplished singer and versatile musician, Cameron won an ARIA in 2007 for his work as a composer and founding member of The Audreys.

MEET the rest of the Principal cast including SIMBA in tomorrow’s blog post here on DanceLife!