I was fortunate enough to be put in an extraordinary position where I was offered a place at Mountview Academy in 2001 and then, 24 hours later, offered an ensemble role in a West End show. I ended up choosing the latter and started my professional career as the back of the Rhino in The Lion King.

One year before, a good friend of mine told me of an open call to audition for the show, which had only just opened six months ago. I queued around the theatre with hundreds of other hopefuls, and waited my turn to stand on the Lyceum Theatre stage and perform my 16 bars to the panel.

I was recalled, and recalled, and recalled, but unfortunately, I got a no. The role they were seeing me for was no longer available.

I was asked to audition again a year later. After six further recalls, I booked a role in the ensemble. Being one of the youngest in the company, I was nervous, excited, overly enthusiastic and way out of my depth, but I learned by example and had a nurturing creative team who saw my potential. 

After a year, I became a swing, and later took on some understudy responsibilities (Ed, Banzai and Simba). Although I chose to forgo training, I see my time with the show as an apprenticeship in musical theatre. I learned a lot from the performing arts classes I took as a teenager at Boden Studios (now also an accredited college of performing arts) and private tuition, which helped me gain the confidence, focus and dedication to be able to work in the industry.

My advice is to stay humble, be a team player and never stop learning – no matter how long your career may be. I’m lucky enough to still be working after 23 years and have just taken over playing Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre. I’m happy to say, I’m still learning.

CV Jonathan Andrew Hume

Theatre includes: The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre, London and Sands Theater, Singapore); Come from Away (Phoenix Theatre, London); The Third Man (Menier Chocolate Factory, London); Guys and Dolls (Bridge Theatre, London)
TV includes: Mary Poppins Returns (Walt Disney Pictures); Dee & Friends in Oz (Netflix); audiobooks and audio dramas
Agents: Marcus & McCrimmon Management and Voicebank London