Backstage at The Lion King ahead City stop

Stephen Carlisle's fellow actors are used to seeing him pacing around, ranting about how unfair life is.

However, Stephen isn't a prima donna – he is just getting into the mean and moody role of Scar for the hit show.

The Lion King is one of the biggest productions to be staged at the Birmingham Hippodrome.

It takes a convoy of 23, 45ft trailers to transport The Lion King from one city to the next on its UK and Ireland tour.

The show is currently at the Palace Theatre in Manchester and Stephen Carlisle says his is excited about coming to Birmingham.

"I love the backstage area at the Hippodrome and can't wait to get into my dressing room there," says Stephen.

"You have to go through a big transformation before you step on stage – it takes one hour to get make-up done.

"Also, when the curtain goes up I'm pacing around behind the scenes saying to myself 'Life is just not fair' - Scar is a bit crazy, a bit of a psychopath."

Stephen says when he first went for the audition he was so keen to get the role he tried to not just act like a lion, but look like one as well.

"Before I went in for the audition I looked in the mirror and thought I looked a bit bland, so I put on some eyeliner and made my hair stick up," he says.

"I did my song and they were quite into it – I just kept running my fingers through my hair and I must have looked quite mad. However, a week later I was told I had the big, fat job of Scar."

Actors not only have to get into the role but also learn how to move to make the carbon fibre puppets look as realistic as possible.

"You have to make the puppet breathe – you can't just move it because it will look drunk, you have to do solid movements, it has to be crisp – not wishy-washy," he says.

"I have to go to the gym regularly to make sure my back and neck are strong for the show."

The Lion King comes to the Birmingham Hippodrome on June 29 and runs for almost three months to September 28.

Crews have to work 24 hours a day over six days to unload trailers and set-up in time for opening night.

The trailers are filled with everything including 700 costumes, puppets, props and stage sets.

So large is the scale of this award-winning musical it employs 150 people, of which 40 are local.

Veteran Gugwana Dlamini has played Rafiki since 2002 and opens the show with the song Circle of Life.

"It is a challenging show and so you have to physically relax before you come to work," she says.

"I can never do the show without doing a warm-up beforehand, like a football player, and then I put myself into character and the make-up makes a huge difference – once that is on I'm not the same person."

During the opening scene of the show a parade of life-size puppets proceed through the aisles of the auditorium and onto stage, a large elephant narrowly missing the overhead lights.

While this might look like a near-miss, hours of meticulous planning has gone into every element of the production, adapting it to fit every touring theatre.

Gugwana says: "The show feels new every day as it is a different audience every night – it is the first time they are seeing it.

"By the time the curtain goes up I'm already into it – and when I see people clapping and smiling I think 'I've done a good job here'.

"Sometimes while on vacation I find myself singing a vocal warm-up in my shower or while at home I just start singing the song I sing in the show. It is such a beautiful song and it is in my system now and part of me."

While the production plays out on stage, audiences have little idea of the activity going on backstage.

Around 40 staff, some working on the mechanics of the show, others ready with props, costumes and make-up work alongside 40 cast members running on and off stage.

"The traffic that goes on backstage is incredible," says Gugwana.

"That is where a lot of the show is happening. When the audience sees the props on stage, and so many of them, they will probably wonder how they have been moved without bumping into each other.

"I'm looking forward to coming to Birmingham – the audiences have loved us everywhere and we are hoping they do in the West Midlands as well."