The West End production of the classic tale of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe arrives in Blackpool this week, as part of its UK tour.
Whatever your age, it is likely you have some experience of this magical story. Some of us may be familiar as early readers, with late night promises of ‘just one more chapter’ before lights out, or sneakily reading with a torch under the covers. Others may remember the TV series from the late eighties, introducing us to the wonderful world of Narnia and the terrifying White Witch. A wider audience was further developed via the film adaptations from the mid noughties, where James McAvoy received recognition for his portrayal of Mr. Tumnus, the friendly faun who welcomes the children to this unfamiliar land. This new retelling of the C.S. Lewis fantasy adventure, engages a new generation, by embracing the mediums of theatre and puppetry, to convey this timeless tale.
The scene is set from the very beginning, with a solider on stage playing 1940s music on a piano, as the audience enter the auditorium. This musical accompaniment continues as people jostle for their seats and rustle their sweet wrappers. This helps us to become immersed in the story, as we begin following four siblings, on their journey as evacuees.
The opening train journey sequence is extremely well staged, utilising creative props, movement and lighting, to represent the chaotic atmosphere of the trip to Scotland; where the children (Lucy, Peter, Susan and Edmund) are going to stay, with an eccentric professor.
Not long after their arrival, Lucy discovers a secret magical world, in the back of a wardrobe in the spare room and this is where our adventure really begins.
The multi-talented cast switch between characters, costumes, props and instruments effortlessly and it was a joy to see all the musical accompaniment being played live by the actors on stage.
Our heroes meet and befriend several magical creatures, whose contemporary costumes assist in elevating the production, by adopting headpieces and ears, to provide more anthropomorphic characters, instead of literal representations. These characters are further complimented by additional puppets, which help bring other animals to life, from the smaller bird and cat, to the impressive lion, Aslan, which is operated by three puppeteers who mimic realistic movements and animal behaviours.
The multi-talented cast switch between characters, costumes, props and instruments effortlessly and it was a joy to see all the musical accompaniment being played live by the actors on stage. Although parts of the story became quite dark and scary, light relief was also provided by some comedic moments, especially by the charming Mr. Beaver.
The cast also provided slick scene changes to keep the action moving, using simple devices like rotating material drapes to full effect. The magic was further enhanced by the incorporation of stage illusions, as some of the animals flew and others disappeared into thin air.
The White Witch is the scary villain and the staging, costume and props are all used to full effect to enhance her intimidating appearance. She is keeping Narnia in a perpetual Winter with no Christmas and will turn anyone who defies her into stone. The children are aided by Aslan the lion, King of Beasts, in a battle against the witch and her minions, but who will win? You will have to head down to aptly named, Winter Gardens, to find out.
There really is something for everyone in this theatrical retelling of this well-loved story, whether you’re a big kid returning to your own childhood, or if you are introducing children for the first time. Just remember to keep your eyes open.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is at The Winter Gardens, Blackpool until Saturday 2nd August. Tickets can be booked on the Winter Gardens website
