A Magical Night in Narnia: Review of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Touring Stage Show)
Last week, my family drove to Woking to see a performance of the touring stage show The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. I mention it here because the show was absolutely SUPERB — and if it’s coming to a theatre near you, you should definitely buy a ticket and go.
The story, of course, is well known, but this was a gorgeous retelling of C.S. Lewis’s classic tale.
On arrival, we were greeted by a darkened, smoky stage and a solitary actor — dressed in clothing reminiscent of a Second World War soldier — gently playing an upright piano. As the show began, the rest of the cast appeared and the scene was set: refugees being evacuated from London to the countryside. It was at this point that we met our four protagonists as they boarded a train to Scotland. The train was beautifully represented by lanterns and suitcases that lit up internally to suggest carriages — a simple effect, but wonderfully evocative.
Soon, the children arrived at the home of the eccentric Professor and were clambering through the wardrobe into the world of Narnia.
From the outset, the show was utterly captivating. The story was beautifully told — but for me, what made this a truly magical experience was the music. While not a musical, music and song played a central role in the storytelling, and what made it so special was that all the music was performed on stage by the cast themselves. The production featured a cello, clarinet, accordion, violin, guitars, a wide array of drums, a piano, and even a double bass mounted on a large wheel.
The music itself was exquisite — often moving, and sometimes heartbreaking. I’ll admit I shed more than one tear during the first song performed by Mr Tumnus, in which he reminisces about a golden age of Narnia before the White Witch’s rule. Utterly beautiful.
The standout performance for me came from the actor portraying the Professor. He was in almost every scene, playing a variety of characters, and brought warmth and joy to the entire production. Mr and Mrs Mole were another delight — not only charming but pivotal to the show’s musical richness.
If there was a weaker point in an otherwise outstanding production, it was Aslan. Neither the physical portrayal of the lion nor the performance quite captured the awe and gravitas the character deserves. That said, even this didn’t dampen the magic.
The entire show was exquisite, enchanting, and unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.
If you can, go and see it!
(Oh — and the children loved it too.)
