REVIEW: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at The Lowry

Image credit: Brinkhoff Moegenburg.

Upstaged Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ethereal and spectacular, the smash-hit production of CS Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a beautifully magical production with some important messages at its core. A wintery feast for the senses – packed with wonder and imagination – the book that introduced many to the joy of reading, leaps perfectly from page to stage in this unmissable production.

The book that introduced many to the joy of reading, leaps perfectly from page to stage.

For those who aren’t familiar with the classic tale, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe tells the story of the Pevensie siblings, Lucy (Karise Yansen), Edmund (Shaka Kalokoh), Susan (Robyn Sinclair) and Peter (Ammar Duffus) when they are evacuated from London and sent to live in the countryside with Professor Kirk during the blitz of World War II. On exploring their new home and discovering a mysterious wardrobe packed with fur coats in the spare room, the children find themselves on an unforgettable wintery adventure – and part of something much bigger than anything they could have imagined. 

Image credit: Brinkhoff Moegenburg.

With phenomenal performances and clever puppetry, audiences witness all of their favourite characters spring to life: the charming faun, Mr Tumnus (Jez Unwin) and the comical duo Mr Beaver (Sam Buttery) and Mrs Beaver (Christine Tedders). Sam Wommack glitters as the icy, feared White Witch and Chris Jared breathes life into the legendary lion, Aslan.

Setting young imaginations racing and gently nudging childhood nostalgia, this production is as much a page-turner as the original novel. Directed by Michael Fentiman, the show takes place within a brightly lit circular frame which moves from a golden tone to cool white signalling the transition between Narnia and the real world. With superb design by Max Humphries and wonderful sequences by Puppetry Director Toby Ollie, the audience ‘oohed and ahhed’ with delight on the night I attended. Clever staging – from The White Witch gliding on her chariot to her flying majestically high above the audience – teamed with energetic dance sequences, talented actor-musicians and lively musical numbers, this show really does have the wow factor.

Truly spellbinding and everything I wanted it to be.

Perhaps, what is most special about this show are some of the messages it carries: how to be a leader and do the right thing; the willingness to sacrifice and to give, and also the importance of courage and imagination. 

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is truly spellbinding and everything I wanted it to be. Leave rainy Manchester behind and step through the wardrobe into Narnia this Christmas – you will not be disappointed.

-Kristy Stott

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe runs at The Lowry until 15 January 2022.