The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe | Venue Cymru

Based on the original production by Sally Cookson, Director Mike Fentiman has brought C.S. Lewis' timeless tale The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe to life on the stage by perfectly encapsulating the whimsical and wondrous of fiction through imaginative storytelling. Currently touring until 11th January 2026, where the tour concludes at The Lowry in Salford, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is a spectacle of theatre magic for the whole family to enjoy.

The story follows The Pevensie Children (Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy), war-time evacuees who find themselves in the countryside to reside with an elderly professor called Digory Kirke. When exploring the mysterious house, it is Lucy that first discovers the wardrobe that leads to the magical world of Narnia. She then tries to convince her siblings of her discovery, and although not initially convinced, the family become part of the journey in restoring the land that has been cursed by the White Witch, in which it is always winter. Ultimately, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe explores themes of good vs evil, redemption, faith and hope, in a way that will resonate both with children and audiences alike.

For this performance, the statement that understudies and swings are the backbone of theatre could not be any more accurate, with several understudies stepping in. For this performance, three of the children were played by understudies. Shane Antony-Whitely perfectly stepped into the role of the eldest brother and gave a convincing performance of battling the pressures of stepping into the father figure with the parents being absent in the children's lives due to being evacuees. Molly Francis portrays Susan's empathetic and sensible nature, being the voice of reason for the family. Luca Moscardini is initially spiteful and easily tempted, yet is assured in his character arc through the themes of redemption which are explored. Kudzai Mangombe is an utter delight as young, headstrong and naive Lucy. Her interpretation of childlike faith is admirable.

The cast all round are delightful, with some worthy mentions to note. Ed Thorpe is an absolute joy to watch on stage as Mr. Beaver, bringing the much needed light comedic relief to the darkness. Oliver Magor brings charm and warmth to the kind and friendly Mr Tumnus. Katy Stephens is committed in her role as the White Witch, fierce and powerful, and actually pretty terrifying.

A standout of this production is the musical elements, with compositions by Barnaby Race and Benji Bower incorporating a folk-score that provide emotional resonance to the piece. Actors double up as musicians to perform the eerie and dramatic compositions and Musical director Ben Goddard ensures that these are impactful. and ehance the storytelling at hand. Fentiman's direction and Shannelle 'Tali' Fergus' choreography further enhance the world building with slick transitions, creating an almost ethereal like world.

The starkness of wartime is not lost in this production - with lighting design by Jack Knowles expertly demonstrating the harsh darkness of the unknown during the wartime, as well as the darkness that takes hold in the mythical world of Narnia. Of course, we couldn't write this review without discussing the striking puppetry design from Max Humphries, with excellent puppetry from several of the cast members, bringing the animals to life with a convincing lifelikeness and leaving both adults and children in awe.

Unfortunately, where this production falls short is the pacing. Whilst the pacing is overall well-balanced, the narrative sometimes feels rushed or not explored enough. However, this is to be expected with the time constraints of trying to fit a novel into a traditional theatre run time.

Overall, this production brings the magical world of Narnia to life with stunning production elements, whisking audiences away on the epic adventure to restore the peace in Narnia and defeat the White Witch.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe plays at Venue Cymru until 09th August 2025.

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★★★★☆ (4*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg