The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe The Musical Review | The Lowry | Manchester

Aslan is back at the Lowry for a musical revival of C.S. Lewis’s beloved classic. Tapping into a wardrobe full of wonder, this stunning adaptation transforms the 1950s story with ingenious staging and stunning puppetry that keep the childlike wonder alive.

While the Pevensie children, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are evading the Blitz in a Professor’s old countryside manor, Lucy (Kudzai Mangombe) discovers a snowy new realm through a wardrobe. Within its land are desperate citizens, including a faun, Mr Tumnus (Alfie Richards), who are closed off in the ephemeral world of Narnia, courtesy of the frosty unofficial ruler, the White Witch.

The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe unleashes an arsenal of visual effects, majestic puppetry and terrifying Turkish Delight to showcase the world beyond the wardrobe. Elevating the White Witch to impressive heights, director Michael Fentiman’s production manages to be both intimate in its silhouetted staging of the Pevensie family and sprawling in the world of Narnia, where the intimidating presence of Katy Stephens takes over the stage with a carriage and a cloak.

The path between good and evil is led by Lucy and Edmund (Bunmi Osadolor), as Edmund is swept up in the charming treats of the chilling villain and Lucy by the story of the rightful, banished leader of Narnia, Aslan. The mythic lion Aslan is intricately puppeteered by two actors, giving him a large sense of power and beauty despite his delicate frame. Aslan is also voiced by Stanton Wright, who follows him onstage to give the spirit animal a wider presence and a greater sense of awe.

Fentiman’s direction is a faithful condensed retelling, with Stephens bringing her glittering and dominating presence alongside Aslan’s stunning design. The White Witch’s icy costume is pure grandeur and illuminates the entire set, but the Pevensie children, Mangombe and Osadolor ground C.S. Lewis’s story with their sweet and playful performances. When the ensemble step back into the reality of 1940s wartime Britain, you see the parallels of the worlds, with the cast switching from being woodland creatures to the teachers and evacuees of the Blitz. Songs including We’ll Meet Again build on the collaborative nature of the tale, but the show’s music is not its main focus. Bringing a visual prowess to the timeless story, Fentiman’s production will linger in your memory for its stunning design, putting you in the Christmas spirit with its wintery world of wonder.

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe is a bewitching rendition of a warming classic, offering an immersive world of dazzling costumes and compelling performances. Hopefully, this production will be around to remind audiences of the power of unity, forgiveness and Turkish Delight for years to come.

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Tickets are available via the Lowry link