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Meet the New Lions of Pride Rock
Asha Parker-Wallace and Posi Morakinyo roar into London's West End
We caught up with Posi Morakinyo and Asha Parker-Wallace ahead of stepping into the lead roles of Simba and Nala in London's landmark production of The Lion King, fresh from playing alongside one another in the acclaimed American Psycho at the Almeida theatre.
There's a playful, joyful energy between them, sharing anecdotes on being the first to tell each other when they received the game-changing news that they got their individual parts in The Lion King.
Asha said Posi was the first to know: “I found out when I was in rehearsals for American Psycho. I got off the phone and told Posi. It's wild that I told Posi I got the job before I even told my parents (laughs).”
Posi needed time for it all to sink in and announced the news when they had gone out for dinner with friends: “Asha was one of the first people I told, too. I got the call in the morning, went into work, did a show, and didn't tell a soul until we went for a meal that evening.”
They continued in sharing their excitement about going from ensemble in American Psycho to leading the company of The Lion King in just a matter of weeks, too. Posi said: “I’m aware of the magnitude of this, but I try to centre my mind on the story instead of myself, as it makes the pressure more shared.”
Asha agrees with this sentiment, “As Posi said, it’s about the story. As much as the lead shows up in more individual moments in the piece, it's so exciting to portray Nala and Simba in The Lion King. Saying it out loud is so surreal.”
Neither are strangers to the West End, though. Posi was recently in For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy at the Garrick, and Asha recently appeared in Burlesque The Musical at The Savoy Theatre.
For many actors in The Lion King company, their journey to the Lyceum stage begins in early childhood. Asha shares a memory of watching The Lion King with her family and imagining herself in the show one day:
“My first experience was here at the Lyceum with my parents. I remember sitting on an aisle seat, and when Circle of Life started, I looked to my left, and I saw this humongous elephant puppet. It seemed so grand and extravagant. I remember watching and being like, I would love to do that. And, here I am now.”
Dreams can come true, and fast forward to 2026, and Asha is now playing the iconic role of Nala and there are big feelings that come with that: “It's such a privilege, there have been so many legendary people before us and to be able to follow in their footsteps playing such an iconic role, in a classic show is such a privilege. I'm humbled to be part of it.”
Not only are the roles iconic but the odds are stacked against you in being able to play the leads in The Lion King remarks Posi whose father is a mathematician: “You only get one Simba and one Nala per production, there are seven active productions across four continents, so that's only 14 opportunities to play these iconic roles, and there's only one London West End. Only one Lyceum. So if you do the math, the probability of you being able to play the lead in arguably the most successful show in the West End is slim, the fact that it's happening is so exciting.”
From youngsters to grown-ups, there's something so special about The Lion King that it's one of those timeless shows where audiences keep coming back time and time again.
Asha agrees: “I feel like you can watch it ten times and it's still like the first time you've seen it. I think audiences keep coming back because it calls them. For the story to have a 9-year-old to a 60-year-old sharing the experience at the same time creates a ladder of life, so regardless of age, there is a story, or a song, directly for you at that point in your life. There are so many lessons in it as well.”
For musical theatre kids, securing a part in The Lion King is often high on the list, so what tips do the new leads have for the next generation Nala and Simba, and what would they say to their younger selves in the same position? For Posi Morakinyo, it's simply about ‘locking in’ and putting in the hard work: “You have to lock in. Dreams are amazing, but dreams don't become reality without work. So if you're afraid of hard work, forget it. It's important to be realistic and keep it real. If you are dedicated to work, eager to listen and to learn, and keen to watch, all of these attributes bode well to being the person you want to become.”
Asha Parker-Wallace is in alignment and has a similar work ethic, but thinks ultimately, it comes down to self-belief: “There are so many things in life that people don't think are achievable, but everything with hard work, commitment and belief in yourself is achievable. Dream big and then dream bigger. I'm excited to represent a powerful female on stage for everyone to see - that really excites me.”
For Posi, he knows that climbing Pride Rock every day will be a particularly poignant experience for him: “I don't think I am ready for the emotional response my body is going to have in that moment.”
Posi Morakinyo and Asha Parker-Wallace are now playing Simba and Nala in Disney's The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre, London - tickets at thelionking.co.uk.
Interview by Sophia A Jackson / Photography by Perou
