AD-Gifted
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is possibly the best show I have ever seen in the theatre.
That is quite a statement to open with, but I was totally invested in the fantasy that came to life on stage and I didn’t want it to end.
Don’t forget to read my reviews of the popular musical, Waitress, and Matthew Bourne’s winter spectacular, The Nutcracker.
An enchanting story
Set in war time, four siblings are evacuated to an eccentric man’s home where they discover something magical. Through an old wooden wardrobe, they enter a snow frosted world called Narnia.
Here they meet friendly woodland animals who are cursed to live in a permanent winter. But they are forming a resistance to a fight against the evil White Witch who has frozen their realm. Soon, we find the humans are a key player in the battle to take back control of the lands.
Reimagined for stage
It’s a much-loved book by C. S. Lewis, which has been reimagined in this play. Through folk song, dance, physical theatre and puppetry, you are immersed.
The show often felt filmic in its approach and I was totally gripped. A warming amber glow depicted the human world whilst a frosty bright light embodied Narnia. Drama was built with pounding drums, a dramatic underscore, creative costuming and big steampunk sets. It looked like no expense had been spared.
Narnia’s inhabitants
The four siblings, Peter (Ammar Duffus), Susan (Robyn Sinclair), Edmund (Shaka Kalokoh) and Lucy (Karise Yansen) were totally endearing. They perfectly captured that child like innocence and sibling relationship. They each possessed their own characteristics, honouring the characters you know and love from the book.
Samantha Womack was icy cold as The White Witch and made me gasp just before the interval with a Wicked inspired flight, and in contrast, each woodland character was loveable and had their animalistic quirks.
Aslan was quite special. He’s recreated as a large-scale human powered puppet, one minute stoically prowling the stage and next intimidatingly on his hinds. The golden shine of the wooden body accompanied by a fur covered actor (Chris Jared) created an imposing and respected King of the Jungle.
This fantastical version of The Lion, Witch and The Wardrobe is innovation on stage. It gave me chills and I want to watch it all over again.
Playing at The Lowry in Salford until Saturday 15 January 2022.
Find out when it’s coming near you.
Photo credits: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg