Simba, Zazu and life-sized zebras: The Lion King comes to Wimbledon
Plus: A new exclusive Wimble reader event (scroll down to enter)
Good morning, Wimblers — I hope that everyone is well! I’m back from France (5kg heavier) and with a newfound appreciation for rotisserie chicken.
With the horrible weather we’re having at the moment, I think it’s safe to assume that’s the end of what was shaping up to be an unusually temperate autumn. But we had fun while it lasted! In today’s edition, Disney has arrived at Wimbledon Quarter — and we sat down with The Lion King’s Joe Beagley (Head of Puppets) and Nancy Shakerley (Education and Audience Engagement Manager) to talk about everything from the mechanics of Zazu’s puppet to the enduring power of the play’s message. Wimble readers will be happy to know that we’ve got an exclusive competition giveaway for 10 free tickets to The Lion King workshop on Thursday 30 October — scroll down to see how you can enter.
Of course, we also have your usual news snippets, an eclectic mix of recommendations for the coming days, and a rather quaint and antiquated property of the week.
Keep sharing The Wimble with your friends, family, colleagues and neighbours. Your support continues to push us further!
Happy reading!
Exclusive Wimble reader event at Wimbledon Quarter 💫
The Lion King has very kindly offered The Wimble 10 free tickets to their workshop next Thursday from 4.15—5pm at Wimbledon Quarter! This workshop is aimed at people aged 16+.
To win, just email zak@thewimble.com with the answer to the question below. Note: I can only offer two tickets per entry, so please specify if you will be needing one or two tickets when you email me your answers.
Q: The Lion King shares many similarities with Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Which character from Shakespeare’s play is Scar loosely based on?
News snippets 🗞
🏚 Wimbledon and Mitcham are among 10 London police stations facing closure. The proposed closures are part of the Metropolitan Police’s cost-cutting measures being introduced to save £260m from its budget. The Met’s revised proposal, which was released last Wednesday, suggests that London will have just three open-all-hours stations. The number of front counters where the public can speak to officers will also reduce to 27, which is quite a stark decrease in numbers when you consider that there were nearly 140 counters in 2013. Read more about the closures here.
🍔 Honest Burgers is set to open a new site in Wimbledon this Sunday. The new venue, located at 88 The Broadway, will be one of 12 new openings, taking Honest Burger’s portfolio to 51 locations across the UK. The new spot will be open from 11.30am daily. Read more about the burger chain’s recent expansion here.
❌ There will be no trams to Wimbledon at half-term due to track work. In fact, half of the Croydon tram network will be closed during that period, which starts on 25 October. TfL have confirmed that the western section of the network from Therapia Lane to Wimbledon will not run for nine days. Replacement buses will be available. Read more about the situation here.
🚓 A man has been arrested in Morden after police issued a warrant over suspected illegal loan shark activity. The 65-year-old man, who has not been named, was arrested on suspicion of illegal money laundering. Officers also seized large amounts of cash, documentation and electronic devices. Dan Benbow, head of the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT), said, “Illegal lenders are often well known in their local community and pretend to be a friend offering a favour when someone needs to borrow … If you have been offered a loan, threatened when you couldn’t pay, had your bank card, passport or ID taken from you as security, or if what you owe keeps growing even though you are making payments, then you may well have been targeted, and you can contact our team in complete confidence for help and advice.” Read the full story here.
🍹 Chilli and Lime, a new Thai restaurant in Wimbledon, has just applied for an alcohol licence. The venue, which is located at 132 Kingston Road, is aiming to bring authentic Thai dishes to the local community. If the application is successful, the restaurant will be allowed to serve alcohol from 12—10.30pm. Check out more details here.
🔥 A house fire broke out at a home on Lewis Road in Mitcham last Friday. Around 40 firefighters were called to the scene after a semi-detached property was completely destroyed by a fire. Firefighters were called at 8.11am and had the blaze under control by 10.43am. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Read more in this statement here.
Property of the week 🏡
While the interior of this house might seem a little old fashioned, I think that’s part of its charm. Just look at that formal dining room! And that table — is it marble? I know that the furniture doesn’t come with the property, but it gives us inspiration. And if antiquated isn’t your thing, this five-bedroom detached home has buckets of potential (think what you could do with that garden). But at £3m, this investment isn’t cheap. Check out more photos here.
The magic of The Lion King arrives in Wimbledon 🦁
Last Sunday marked the 26th anniversary of The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre. But you needn’t head to the West End to see the famous costumes and puppets in person. On Monday, The Lion King’s new exhibition arrived in Wimbledon Quarter. This week, The Wimble sat down with The Lion King’s Joe Beagley (Head of Puppets) and Nancy Shakerley (Education and Audience Engagement Manager) to talk about everything from the stage play’s groundbreaking costume designs to the enduring impact of one of the world’s most beloved musicals. We’ve also got a special competition/giveaway for those that want to attend their workshop on Thursday 30 October. Scroll up to see how you could win.
The Wimble: How did you find yourself working for The Lion King? What was your trajectory?
Joe: Funnily enough, it all started in Wimbledon. I was actually studying at Wimbledon School of Arts — which I believe is now called Wimbledon College of Arts — when I started to freelance for The Lion King. This was just after the play’s fifth anniversary, so we’re talking early 2005. And I’ve been with the company ever since.
Talk to me a little bit about your work. What does a day in the life look like for Joe Beagley?
Joe: A big chunk of my job revolves around maintaining the masks and puppets. The performances are incredibly physical, as I’m sure you know, and we need to be mindful of wear and tear. If padding comes loose, I’m there to fix it. If a mask needs repainting, my team is on call for that. If the performer playing Zazu goes on holiday, then we’ll take that opportunity to restore the Zazu puppet — that means everything from changing his feathers to repairing the claws on his feet. A lot of our fixes are done the day before a performance, but my team is also on hand during performances in case anything goes wrong.
And does it ever go wrong?
Joe: Of course! It’s live theatre! I mean, you can certainly have days where you’re waiting for something to go wrong and it never does. But then there are those days where it seems like everything is going wrong, everything is falling apart, and you’re running around because masks need replacing, puppets need fixing, mechanisms are broken and there’s not a moment to spare. My team is crucial for days like that. Just to give you an idea of the size of our operation: there are 232 puppets used in The Lion King. Each of these puppets has various rods and pulleys, so there’s a lot of potential for things to break or go wrong. That’s why it’s so important to be on site to spot those needed repairs.
The Lion King is one of the most recognisable shows in the world. Why do you think it’s had such a lasting impact?
Joe: I think part of the reason is because of how revolutionary The Lion King was when it came out. It was nothing short of pioneering. The only somewhat similar stage show at the time was Cats, but that was about it. We’ve always used carbon fibre for our masks and puppets. When the show premiered in the late 90s, no one had heard of carbon fibre (unless they worked in Formula 1). We were the first of our kind to use carbon fibre so extensively. Now everyone knows what carbon fibre is, and loads of shows use it. But I still think the show feels exciting and pioneering now, and that’s partially why it’s lasted this long.
Of course we could modernise aspects of The Lion King, but it’s really important for us to stay true to the original vision. Yes, there might be more efficient ways to make certain masks or puppets, but those methods are not worth it if they cut corners and are at the detriment to our quality. We have introduced the use of 3D printing for some of our puppetry and mask work — which has been great — but even then we don’t use it excessively. The magic from the show would be lost if we changed too much.
And after 20 years at The Lion King, do any career moments jump out at you as highlights?
It’s really hard to pick out one highlight… I think I’ll have to go with our relaxed performances. They’re very special to me. It’s at these performances that I often get to watch parents watching their children experiencing the magic and wonder of The Lion King for the first time, and that’s incredibly moving.
What are relaxed performances?
Joe: I think Nancy, our Education and Audience Engagement Manager, is the best person to answer that.
Nancy: Hi there! The relaxed performances are where we open up the theatre to people who want the freedom to move around, sing-along and express themselves whichever way they want. These relaxed performances are for people with learning or sensory issues and disabilities, and also for those that care for them. It’s exactly like any other performance, only the auditorium has a more laid-back, less-strict environment to cater for those with different needs.
Let’s discuss these workshops and exhibitions in Wimbledon. What are they and why are you running them?
Nancy: The workshops have been running for roughly 10 years, but the exhibition is a lot newer — in fact, it only launched at Battersea Power Station in February this year. The workshops are a great opportunity for people to come along, learn some of the songs off by heart, practise the choreography, and see The Lion King in a new way. Most people are familiar with the songs, but learning the lyrics and singing them with 30 other people can have a really profound impact, especially those songs with lyrics in Zulu. But above all, the workshops are just great fun!
What have the responses been like to the exhibition so far?
Nancy: What’s been really fun is seeing people’s reactions to the size of the masks and puppets. I don’t think people realise that our performers are moving around on stage with life-size carbon fibre zebras and cheetahs for two hours.
Joe: It’s also lovely for people to come and appreciate the detail that goes into our masks, puppets and costumes. For instance, all of our corsets are hand beaded, but people wouldn’t necessarily get a chance to appreciate that — or even know that — were it not for the free exhibition.
The Lion King will remain in Wimbledon Quarter until Saturday 1 November. Click here for more details, and scroll up for your chance to win a free ticket to their workshop from 4.15—5pm on Thursday 30 October.
The Wimble’s to-do list 🎃
👻 Planet Art’s Spooktacular 2025 Halloween Camp: Still not sure what to do for you kids this half-term? Well, look no further. This year, Planet Art is offering five days of spooky Halloween-themed arts, crafts and games for children ages 4–9. This year, they’re also adding more spaces, more staff and extended hours so even more families can join in on the fun. On Friday (the last day) the camp will host a special Halloween cupcake decorating event in partnership with My Little Cake, as well as fancy dress, games and lots more. Book your spot here.
Where: The Garden Hall, St Mary’s Church
When: Monday 27 — Friday 31 October, 9.30am – 3pm
🥂 Introduction to Grower Champagne at Jeroboams: Christmas is drawing closer, which can only mean one thing… Champagne! So why not take this opportunity to enjoy some of the most delicious champagnes from artisan producers across the region? Tickets are £45 per person and include a tasting of at least five champagnes and accompanying snacks.
Where: Jeroboams, Wimbledon Village
When: Friday 24 October, 6–7.30pm
🥕 Rooftop Farm tours: These are the last Rooftop Farm tours of the year, so tickets are selling out fast. Join resident famers James, Gabby and Oliver as they lead you around their urban garden and mushroom “growing lab”. Tickets are £9 and include a pot of Rooftop Honey as well as a voucher for discounted mushrooms grown on site.
Where: Rooftop Farm, Wimbledon Quarter
When: Saturday 25 October, 10-11am and 11.30am-12.30pm
🎭 Half-term holiday workshops at Polka: Polka’s holiday programmes include one-off workshops where children of different ages are invited to discover and explore creative art forms ranging from musical theatre through to puppetry and storytelling. This October, there will be family glow jar making, a stage combat masterclass, a “voyage to the South Pole” and much more! Book your spaces here.
Where: Polka Theatre
When: Tuesday 28 – Friday 31 October
🎻 St John’s October lunchtime recital: This is the last lunchtime recital of the year before we move into the Wimbledon International Music Festival. This month, Simon Neill and St John’s Director of Music Robert Mingay-Smith (piano) will be performing Schubert’s “Fantasy” in F minor, Mozart’s “Piano Sonata” in D major (K.381), and Saint-Saëns’s “Danse Macabre”. As ever, this event is free, but donations are very much encouraged.
Where: St John the Baptist, Wimbledon
When: Friday 24 October, 1pm onwards (audience members are encouraged to arrive at 12.30pm for cakes and warm drinks)
🎃 Halloween pumpkin hunt on the Common: If you’re looking for a fun family-friendly activity this Sunday, then this is it. This Halloween-themed treasure hunt is the perfect opportunity for your little ones to let off some steam. There will also be a reptile event, face paintings and the much-anticipated colouring competition. Entry is £3 per person. Click here for timings and how to pay.
Where: The Windmill, Windmill Road
When: Sunday 26 October, 11am – 4pm
Question of the week 🔍
Q: Which of these famous actresses was born in Wimbledon?
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week’s edition of The Wimble. I hope you enjoyed our feature with the team behind The Lion King! Do enter the competition for your chance to win tickets to the workshop on Thursday 30 October. Other than that, keep sharing our newsletter and keep an eye out for our upcoming Christmas print edition.