Image credit: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg
Based on the novel by C.S. Lewis
Based on the original production by Sally Cookson
Directed by Michael Fentiman
Leeds Playhouse
I still have all The Chronicles of Narnia books from when the they were given to me as a child. I remember being told the famous writer came from Northern Ireland and Narnia was inspired by our local landscape. A child’s imagination paints their own rich and unique vision from the words on the page. This theatrical adaptation directed by Michael Fentiman certainly delivers on both an epic and touchingly intimate level. The setting of the stage in The Quarry Theatre works beautifully. The opening scene is a lone soldier clad in his great coat and steel helmet quietly playing piano below a huge clock face. As the cast slowly gather on stage to the strains of We’ll Meet Again, the scene is set to meet the four siblings being evacuated during WWII who are heading for not only an unknown place in Scotland but a magical trip through a wardrobe that will lead to Narnia.
The four adult actors who play the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve do a good job of evoking the children. Joanne Adaran and Jesse Dunbar exude decency and earnestness as the elder Susan and Peter. Bunmi Osadolar gives Edmund all the sullen intensity and greedy spitefulness of an angry young boy while Kudzai Mangombe really shines as the pure hearted Lucy, The Bringer of Light.
Alfie Richards charms as Mr Tumnus the kindly fawn, and Ed Thorpe and Anya de Villiers are excellent as Mr and Mrs Beaver helping to lead the resistance in Narnia. Stanton Wright is the noble human face of Aslan the lion and Kraig Thornber is wonderful as the wise and benevolent Professor. The star of the show is Katy Stephens who is magnificent as The Snow Queen. Every second on stage she oozes imperious cruelty as she tries to hold her power over Narnia. As Aslan returns bringing Spring and her power starts to ebb away, she ramps up her evil ways shearing the mighty lion and wearing his pelt as a war trophy.
The set and costume design by Tom Paris is gorgeous. Sumptuous costumes for the Snow Queen create drama and some spellbinding moments especially when she rises up over Narnia floating with gauze robes descending ethereally across the stage as the snow falls steadily. Set changes are so smooth and fluid that they ramp up the magic as one moment Lucy is in the cosy woodland home of Mr Tumnus and the next she joins her siblings at a the dining table for kippers with The Professor.
The puppetry by Toby Oliver and Max Humphries gives Aslan an ancient feel as this is no cuddly lion but a rather an ancient creature that almost seems like a terracotta warrior. Schrodinger the cat has the mangy look of an elderly beast and is imbued with all the character of a wise old family cat. The puppetry merges seamlessly with the human performances and the magic and illusions by Chris Fisher to give the production all the wow factor to be expected from a big West End production. Many of the cast are multi instrumentalists and the music by Barnaby Race and Benji Bower has a folky, whimsical feel with elements that feel like klezmer music.
The overall feel of this production is just beautiful. The deeply Christian and moral background to this story by C.S. Lewis is always present with its battle of good over evil and the redemptive journey for Edmund coupled with the willing sacrifice by Aslan and his subsequent resurrection. They may hark back to a better, possibly more noble era but as we approach another Christmas and a beckoning new year there is a certain comfort to be taken from being reminded that good can overcome evil if we unite together like the beasts of Narnia.
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