The King And I

The King And I at Dominion Theatre

Why see The King And I?

Shall we dance?

A Far-Eastern romance beckons between a hard-hearted king and a widowed English governess, in one of the Rodgers and Hammerstein's most beloved musicals.

Following its triumphant UK tour, Barlett Sher's multi-award-winning revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein celebrated classic returns to the West End in January 2024, with Helen George reprising the role of Anna Leonowens! 

What is it about?

Anna Leonowens is a widowed English teacher, who is charged with teaching the King of Siam's (now Thailand) hundred-strong royal offspring. Upon arrival in the country, Anna and her son Louis find the culture overwhelmingly different from their own, and the King himself to be a severe and strict employer. Though their relationship is initially marked by conflict and tension, eventually a bond begins to grow between the King and Anna that blossoms into a mutual respect and later attraction; however, can they both overcome their clash of cultures and propriety for the sake of love?

Getting to Know The King and I - A brief history

When The King and I originally opened in March 1951, Rodgers and Hammerstein both had serious doubts. Originally joking that audiences were only coming to see if it was better than their previous hit South Pacific, the immediate response allayed their fears. The King and I went on to become an overnight hit, and has played to audiences from Broadway to Bangkok, while its film adaptation, famous for Yul Brenner's commanding performance opposite Deborah Kerr in her voluminous ball-gowns, won five Academy Awards.

Key Information

Audience

Suitable for ages 10+

Dates

Finished 2 Mar 2024

Cast

Helen George as Anna Leonowens

Creative

Directed by Bartlett Sher
Music by Richard Rodgers
Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammersetin II

Reviews

Customer reviews

33 reviews, average rating: (4.5 Stars)

Mermi

Wonderful music and performances

I loved Darren Lees performance but all of the cast were fantastic. Helen George is extremely talented . Cezarah Bonner, although so petite, had immense command of the stage as queen Thiang. The orchestra was fantastic and their music combined with the precision of the dancers during "run eliza" was spine chilling. I am privileged to have seen this. ... Read more

Martin

Amazing

I really loved this production and couldn’t really fault it the costumes were wonderful and the props though sometimes simple were effective. It was amongst my favourite shows ever and I would love to see it again! ... Read more

Sarah

A brilliant time

Was not sure what to expect from Helen George, but the part was made for her. The story telling of Eliza was the best part for me, very well portrayed and danced. The boat she arrives on was the best scenery throughout the show and I agree the rest of scenery was not as good, but it did not spoil any enjoyment whatsoever. I would recommend to older children who love theatre and of course all adults. At the Dominion, my seat was row G 24 aisle seat and my view was brilliant for anyone wanting to book. I would go again, but it's not cheap. ... Read more
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