The Rose Theatre’s production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe smashed the theatre’s Christmas box office record and the 25,000 people who have already bought tickets will not be disappointed, writes Rachael Burford.
C.S Lewis’ classic tale about four children who find a magical kingdom at the back of a wardrobe in an eccentric professors’ house is given a musical makeover by composer Eamonn O’Dwyer.
Record breaking Christmas ticket sales for Rose Theatre's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The young leads, picked from the Rose Youth Theatre, display professionalism beyond their years and at times often outshone their veteran counterparts.
The Rose Youth Theatre in action
Kate Ashman as Lucy is particularly charming as the little girl who first enters Narnia and makes friends with James Gillan’s delightfully camp fawn Mr Tumnes.
Gwithian Evans was also perfect as her deceitful older brother Edmund and Kate Tydman terrifying as the White Witch.
What made the production particularly impressive was the beautifully simple stage set comprising of just a huge wardrobe door during the scenes set in the professors’ house.
The simplicity of the opening scene set makes the moment Lucy first enters the wardrobe and Narnia is revealed completely breathtaking.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, until January 4, Rose Theatre, 24 – 26 High Street, Kingston, tickets from £10, call the box office on 020 8174 0090 or online at rosetheatrekingston.org.
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