Britain's favourite musical has finally been revealed – and Disney's The Lion King has roared to the top of the charts.
Nearly one in five Brits (18%) picked Disney's West End blockbuster as the nation's top musical, ahead of long-standing favourites Mamma Mia! (16%) and Grease (15%).
The findings were released on August 5 by Marella Cruises, TUI’s cruise line, ahead of the launch of its first-ever musical-themed cruise, Musical Med-leys.
Best musicals revealed by Brits
The study also saw The Sound of Music (11%), Wicked (10%) and Matilda (10%) take centre stage in the rankings, proving the nation's love affair with musicals is showing no signs of reaching its final curtain.
And the Disney classic isn't just stealing the spotlight in Britain's hearts - it's also the musical audiences have seen more than any other.
One in four (25%) said they've seen Simba and friends live on stage, making it Britain's most-watched musical ahead of every other production.
Best songs from musicals revealed
When it comes to the songs Britain loves most, ABBA leads the way.
Dancing Queen (14%) topped the rankings, ahead of Mamma Mia (13%), Circle of Life (13%) and We Will Rock You (13%), proving the nation's favourite show tunes are every bit as iconic as the productions themselves.
For millions of Brits, one trip to the theatre is never enough.
Long after the applause has died down, they're still blasting the soundtracks, belting out show tunes and reliving the magic at every opportunity.
One in four (25%) regularly listen to musical soundtracks at home, while the same number confess to belting out show tunes while doing the housework.
More than one in five (22%) belt them out in the shower, while the same number have travelled specifically to see a musical – turning weekends away into full-blown theatrical pilgrimages.
Others say they've listened to the same soundtrack on repeat for weeks (23%), while almost one in five (17%) have openly wept during a performance.
It's little wonder that the performances people remember most are those that give them goosebumps (29%), create powerful emotional moments (27%) and leave them talking about the experience for years afterwards (25%).
Far from being a niche pastime, musicals have become part of everyday British life.
More than four in 10 (43%) say they love musicals despite only going occasionally, while another 26% enjoy them if someone else suggests it.
Just one in 10 (10%) insist they're simply "not musical people".
Despite the enthusiasm, most Britons remain occasional theatregoers, with almost a quarter (23%) attending less than once a year.
Just 7% make it to a musical every month.
If given the chance to spend a year working in musical theatre, 15% said they'd choose to work backstage, while 14% dream of becoming a West End lead performer.
Another 14% would happily join the entertainment cast aboard a cruise ship.
Marella Cruises launches Musical Med-leys cruises
The findings show musicals are about much more than a night at the theatre, creating shared experiences and lasting memories that audiences return to again and again.
It's that enduring love of musical theatre that inspired Marella Cruises to launch Musical Med-leys – the cruise line's first-ever sailing dedicated entirely to musicals.
The five-night cruise aboard Marella Voyager will feature live performances and appearances from West End stars Zoe Birkett, Lee Mead and Jenna Lee-James, who will also take part in Q&A sessions with guests.
The entertainment line-up already reflects Britain's favourite musicals.
Frozen ranked seventh in the nation's favourite productions (10%), while Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (6%) and The Tina Turner Musical (5%) also featured in the rankings.
Their signature songs proved just as popular too, with Let It Go named Britain's joint third favourite musical song (13%), while Any Dream Will Do and Proud Mary both made the nation's top 20.
West End star Zoe Birkett said: "The magic of musical theatre is that it stays with you long after the curtain comes down.
"The songs become part of your everyday life, the stories never leave you, and every audience shares something special together.
"It's wonderful to see just how passionate Britain remains about musical theatre, and I can't wait to help bring that same excitement to guests aboard Musical Med-leys."
Prices for the five-night Musical Med-leys cruise aboard Marella Voyager start from £775 per person, with Marella Cruises' all-inclusive offering including flights, tips, service charges, meals and drinks.
Would you like to board the Marella Voyager for the Musical Med-leys cruise? Tell us in the comments below.
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