Tributes Paid To 'Lion King' Director Chris Hornby

The Chiswick resident had a successful career in the West End

Tributes have been paid to Chiswick resident, Chris Hornby, Resident Director of The Lion King musical since 2012, who died suddenly recently at the age of 43.

In an extensive career in musical theatre, he had worked in a number of top West End shows, from Oliver, to Billy Elliott.

In a statement, Disney Theatrical Group general manager Richard Oriel said the group and cast of The Lion King were “absolutely heartbroken at the sudden and devastating loss of our beloved Chris, who brought so much energy, joy and laughter to the company”.

Both the West End and touring productions of The Lion King dedicated recent performances to Chris Hornby as did Wicked, Miss Saigon, Billy Elliot and White Christmas.

A graduate of Arts Educational Schools, Chris Hornby had previously worked in the West End in for Cameron Mackintosh’s revival of Oliver!, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane from 2008 to 2011 and on the national tour of White Christmas in 2011 to 2012.

His other credits included Peter Pan at the Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin and Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre and the 2008 tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He was also dance captain for the Donmar Warehouse’s tour of Guys and Dolls in 2007.

As a performer, Hornby appeared in many shows including Me and My Girl, Starlight Express, Anything Goes, Annie, Billy Elliot, Singing in the Rain and Guys and Dolls.

A family funeral in Chris’s home town of Southport will take place shortly with a larger memorial planned for later in the year in London.

January 7, 2015