The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Could Aslan the lion, spiritual hero of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, really be dead?
Amy Brown (Lucy) and Danny Seldon (Mr Tumnus) in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds Photo: Robert Workman
No. there is a familiar roar. He appears high up at the back of the theatre and the cheering is loud, long and powered by an enormous collective relief. Audience emotions have been gripped from the start. They will stay gripped until bed time and perhaps even longer.
Louis Decosta Johnson is the mighty Aslan. He looks dignified and impressively scary even when shuffling around the stage on all fours. Clare Foster plays his adversary the White Witch and she delivers a stunning, beautifully measured performance. Here is how to play a villain and my goodness, she can sing.
Each animal character moves magnificently. The battle scenes are utterly thrilling and are performed with grace, skill and fervour. There is excitement, danger and magic everywhere and, above all, a wonderful feeling of myth being brought to life.
Revived again for the Christmas season, this Birmingham Rep/ West Yorkshire Playhouse co-production is sure to be revived long into the future. It is a triumph of theatrical art that will enthral children and take parents and grandparents back to their childhoods.
Production information
- By:
- CS Lewis, dramtised by Adrian Mitchell
- Composer:
- Shaun Davey
- Management:
- West Yorkshire Playhouse and Birmingham Repertory Theatre
- Cast:
- Joseph Pitcher, Laura Pitt-Pulford, Stefan Butler, Amy Brown, Clare Foster, Louis Decosta Johnson, Howard Coggins, Karen Mann, Danny Seldon, Rebecca Faulkenberry, Darren J Fawthrop, David McGranaghan, Neil Salvage, Ben Sewell, Kerry Whiteside, Owen Young
- Director:
- Ian Brown
- Design:
- Ruari Murchison
- Sound:
- Mic Pool
- Lighting:
- Guy Hoare
- Costumes:
- Stephen Snell and Ruari Murchison
- Choreography:
- Ann Yee
- Musical direction:
- Jonathan Gill
Production information can change over the run of the show.
Run sheet
- West Yorkshire Playhouse Leeds
- November 24 2007-February 2
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