The Stage

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

Published Monday 30 November 2009 at 10:20 by Neil Bonner

Bringing this CS Lewis morality tale into the theatre has always been a tall order - but this New Vic production in the round rises admirably to the challenge, weaving the often-dark story of four lost children into a delightful Christmas spectacular.

Nicholas Cass-Beggs as Aslan and Megan Hall as the White Witch in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe at the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme Photo: Andrew Billington

The real stars of this show are Laura Clarkson’s innovative set design and Theresa Heskins’ inspired direction. The audience is immersed in a magical world, where it snows, the lion roars, a stone altar splits in two and spring flowers sprout miraculously from the stage floor.

Scenes depicting the demise of the witch and the lion are handled sensitively, so as not to disturb younger children, yet this is achieved without any loss of dramatic impact.

Although few props are employed, allowing for maximum use of the viewers’ imagination, even younger audience members can follow the story of wartime evacuees Edmund, Susan, Peter and Lucy as they enter the strange world of Narnia, thanks in no small part to the fine acting of Jack Blumenau, Clara Darcy, Antony Eden and Pam Jolley, respectively.

Certainly the youngsters that packed the matinee performance I attended were held transfixed throughout, not only by the engaging characters and choreography but by the visual delights on offer from the creative team.