The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

CS Lewis’ most famous children’s novel follows the adventures of four children transported through a wardrobe to the magical land of Narnia. Directed by Mark Thomson, this imaginative stage adaption is sure to enthral. The classic tale is of good versus evil, with the biblical connotations in the sacrifice of Aslan making for an exciting story. The cast and crew of this production do their hardest and best to conjure up the magic that goes with it - just in time for Christmas.

Although at first Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy (played by Hoatson, Hulse, Thomas and McAllister respectively) come across as jolly precocious, despite the 1940s setting, that is a small niggle as soon as the transformation is made into Narnia. With the elaborate set pieces gliding on and off the stage, the magical land is imaginatively evoked first as a wintery nightmare and later a spring-time paradise. The creation of Giant Rumblebuffin is particularly spectacular: all that is visible of him is a foot with a wiggling toe, but the movement of it delights the audience.

The forces of evil are led by the White Witch (Meg Fraser) in a fantastically charged and villainous performance, aided by magnificent costuming and clever sound effects. The only other member of the cast who can match her performance is of course Aslan (Daniel Williams), who is equally aided by the design team and his own powerfully commanding stage presence. While the story is not known for its detailed characterisation, the economical portraits sketched are all well-rounded and appealing.

The choreography of the production is equally polished; the dances of Mr and Mrs Beaver (Ruth Connell and David Lucas) are very entertaining to watch. While the cast lacks the numbers to provide ‘epic’ battle scenes, the action remains engaging.

Both in terms of plot and sense of place, the book has been adapted well to the stage and will provide a fun, festive night out for those who cherish this classic tale.