Robbie Collins is wowing audiences and cast alike with his performance as King Mufasa in the musical ensemble which opened in Sydney in December.
"It was a long audition process it was about a year long," Mr Collins says.
"There were three call backs- each one of them equally as tough and I had the same feeling after each one of them I wasn't actually sure how I was going , that was a very competitive field."
Robbie had only just finished his three year studies at the National Institute of Dramatic Art when he auditioned for the role as King Mufasa against over 1800 others.
"Sometimes when I think about it, it's such a pleasure and a privelge to be in this wonderful producation."
"I have to pinch myself sometimes cause I really didn't think that something of this magnitude would come my way as quickly as it did."
The Australian production of The Lion King, opened in December and is one of 10 productions running concurrently across the world. The Disney musical has already grossed $5 billion dollars internationally.
Australian director, Michael O'Connell, says maintaining the cultural integrity of the production amidst its spectacular costumes and set designs is an ongoing challege.
"As the Lion King is brought from country to country it's always has a core of South African performers becasue much of the script is written in Zulu or Zutu," Mr O'Connell said.
"So we need to keep that authenticity of the language and the heartbeat of the show."
Mr O'Connell says Mr Collins was the perfect fit to play the majestic King Mufasa.
"He (Robbie Collins) came to us with one of the most impossible combinations you could find. Someone who could play a king like a man."
"I think Rob just imbues that and brings that to his stage performance every night. It's a very difficult balance."
The Lion King, which is set in Africa, is about a young lion prince, who must become a man and live up to the legacy of his father, King Mufasa. But King Mufasa's brother Scar has plans to become king himself.
For Tiwi man Robbie Collins playing the role which prides itself on cultural authenticity resonates deeply.
"The story of the Lion King itself is one about belonging and it's in many ways its a father son story," he says.
"They're two things that resonate with me fairly strongly. So coming into the process I felt I had a really fair grounding in terms of my cultural identity, the fact that i'm a proud Tiwi man, to be able to draw on for the role as well."
