STUDENT actors will be spreading some hakuna matata when they take to the stage for one of their academy's most ambitious productions to date.
Students from across the year groups at Trinity Academy, in Thorne, are involved in Disney's The Lion King Junior, an abridged version of the Broadway show.
Lasting just 75 minutes with no interval, the cast hope the show will appeal to the whole family with its well-known songs including Circle of Life and Can You Feel the Love Tonight? by Elton John and Tim Rice.
The show tells the story of Simba, a young lion prince whose birth means his uncle Scar is pushed down the line to the throne on the death of King Mufasa. Scar plots with the hyenas to kill Mufasa and Simba so he can become king.
Set in the African grasslands, the students will employ physical theatre to create the landscape, and spectacular masks and a life-size elephant's head have been created for the show by the academy's art department.
Director Mel Cutler explained: "The stage will be empty save for the actors so they will create the different environments such as Scar's cave and the grassland using their own bodies and movement."
Caitlin Houlbrook, 16, who is playing Simba's friend and mate Nala, said: "Nala is a strong, independent lioness. I will have to adopt animalisation techniques but I've done it before when I played Snowball in our GCSE production of Animal Farm."
Bailey Wilson has been working on his characterisation of Scar. "He craves power and is jealous of Simba so I've been rehearsing how to get across in his actions and expressions," he said.
More than 50 actors and dancers are in the cast while other students will help backstage and with sound and lighting.
"It's going to be a lot of fun with lots of dancing and singing so it will be a great night out for the whole family," added Mrs Cutler, who is supported by musical director Susan Shepherd, choreographer Gemma McArthur and make-up artist Rebecca Sheard.
The other principal roles are played by Talia Sweed as young Simba, Leon Chen as older Simba, Jasmine Clarke as Mufasa and Megan George as young Nala.
* The Lion King JR is at Trinity Academy, in Church Balk, Thorne, from February 2-4. Doors open at 6.30pm and tickets cost £4 or £3 for concessions.