Friday, December 5

Tag: Stanton Wright

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – Sheffield Lyceum
Yorkshire & Humber

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – Sheffield Lyceum

Triumphant and sublime masterclass of theatrical storytelling – Enchanting! Selectively based on C.S Lewis’ novel of the same name and the first and best known of seven in the Chronicles of Narnia series. Direct from the West End, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe takes its audience on a magical and majestic journey through the wardrobe into Narnia. Written in 1950, the story tells of four siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy who are evacuated in wartime to the home of an eccentric Professor, they discover an old wardrobe in a spare room and upon entering it are transported to the mystical land of Narnia. Can the two sons of Adam and the two daughters of Eve aid both the animals and the returning saviour Aslan, the Lion, to rid Narnia of the White Witch and restore Narnia to its seaso...
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – Winter Gardens, Blackpool
North West

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – Winter Gardens, Blackpool

The show is based on the classic 1950s novel by C.S. Lewis telling the tale of four siblings evacuated during the war who go on an adventure through the wardrobe and discover the magical land of Narnia. All the classic characters are there but this is a visual masterpiece, a cleverly put together evening of escapism captivating the elements of magic, imagination, nostalgia and a very talented team of creatives and performers. I am not familiar with this show, however I have seen the Narnia movies and so I knew somewhat what to expect. At the centre of the story the four siblings Joanna Adaran as a gentle, thoughtful Susan, Kudzai Mangombe as the cheerful loveable Lucy, Jesse Dunbar as a courageous Peter and Bunmi Osadolor as a mischievous Edmond. I’m going to be candid, at the ...
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – Festival Theatre
Scotland

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – Festival Theatre

As someone who spent a good portion of their childhood half-convinced there might be a secret world hiding at the back of the wardrobe, this production was always going to land somewhere between nostalgia and reverence. And I’m pleased to say, it hit the mark beautifully. Michael Fentiman’s production, adapted from Sally Cookson’s earlier version, is a rich, often dazzling journey into Narnia and one that balances spectacle and substance with real flair. From the opening bars of We’ll Meet Again, underscoring the siblings’ evacuation from London, it’s clear this is not simply a children’s story. There’s grit in the frame, a proper wartime darkness that lends weight to the fantasy. It’s still magic – of course it is – but the stakes feel real. The visual storytelling is a triumph. ...
The Kite Runner – Liverpool Playhouse
North West

The Kite Runner – Liverpool Playhouse

Settling into a packed auditorium, there was a palpable expectation. Another world class story has been taken to the stage and I was keen to see if it was going to work. Hanif Khan takes his place at the front of the stage. A hush descends, but the play is yet to start. Filling the space with sound, he plays his tabla drums with gentle tenacity, bringing the Liverpool crowd into another world. This musical intro is something familiar to theatre goers that can go one of two ways, either the performance that follows is over-acted to the point where our presence in this new world is glaringly false or where we are truly transported. I’m glad to say this performance is of the latter. Amongst frequent soundscapes made by performers, this production aptly delivers the essence of Khaled Hossei...