REVIEW | The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe UK Tour

Photo credit: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
UK TOUR
★★★★★

For the longest time readers of C.S.Lewis' unforgettable novel have had their imagination engrossed by the wonders of a world called Narnia. The characters in these stories have long stayed with us and now they're leaping from the pages to the stage in a brilliant new production, directed by Michael Fentiman. Fentiman has created this new production based on the version Sally Cookson directed at the Leeds Playhouse back in 2017.  

This new production of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is an unforgettable piece of theatre for the entire family to absorb in every breath. From the moment the show begins we are transported to Britain in the midst of World War II. At an ordinary train station, we meet four Pevensie children who are not just about to embark on a new adventure in Scotland but will discover an entirely different world beyond the doors of an old wardrobe... It will be down to these four children to fulfil a prophecy and save Narnia from the grips of eternal winter from the hands of Jadis, The White Witch.

Photo credit: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Michael Fentiman has directed a production that seeps out pure beauty and the collaborative creative effort delivers a top-class show like no other on the stage. Tom Paris has really emphasised these two parallel worlds in his set and costume design, particularly with the animals of Narnia who are striking and made to the finest of details. This show is storytelling at its finest; portrayed in the artistry of puppetry, aerial work, illusions, music, lighting, and choreography. Something that really sets this performance apart from others is how the cast is used to portray the change in locations instead of scenery. When entering Narnia there is no great change in the set, we don't see snowy backdrops wheeled across the stage, instead, the ensemble cast takes to the stage throwing on great white coats which twirl and spin, bringing about a change that is impactful and really makes you appreciate that the world they step into is dynamic and living. The strength in the visual storytelling is heavily supported by the magnificent cast who are experts at their craft. Their actor-musician skill really emphasises this production and gives it a solid presence. 

The puppetry intertwined in this show makes it truly stand out, more specifically when we see Aslan arrive in Narnia in the second half of the show. It is a core memory of this production that will stick with its audiences forever. Three incredibly talented puppeteers (Oliver Grant, Oliver Bingham, and Shaun McCourt) breathe life into this character and their characteristics have been well crafted alongside Chris Jared who develops Aslan even further through voice and body language. His presence is felt from the moment he arrives, adding layers of emotion and stance that really emphasise his strong influence on how this story unfolds. I believe this will be the performance he is remembered for a long time in his career. 

Photo credit: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Photo credit: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

At the core of this story are the four Pevensie children who have been well cast and captured marvellously by Ammar Duffus, Robyn Sinclair, Karise Yansen, and Shaka Kalokoh. It felt as those these characters had directly jumped from the pages of the book itself. The White Witch, Jadis has a huge presence. Samantha Womack is superb in this role, supported by the use of great costumes and ariel work to really develop her presence. It's the inhabitants of Narnia though who steal this show for me. They each bring their own take on these particular and fond creatures of this world in a superb style, especially Jez Unwin who brings Mr Tumnus to life in an unforgettable way. 

Overall, this production of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is one of the best-staged productions I have ever seen. I could watch it over and over again just to escape and marvel at the world that has been brought from the pages to the stage in a brilliant way. It's just gorgeous and I would urge everybody to see it - at least once! 

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is heading to London's West End for a limited run from July 2022. Book your tickets now!