Samantha Womack as the White Witch standing above the Lion, Aslan – played by Chris Jared and puppeteered by Oliver Grant, Shaun McCourt and Sean Lopeman
(Picture: Matt Crockett)This is the first look at the West End production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe starring EastEnders actress Samantha Womack.
The show, based on C.S. Lewis’ best-selling story, features Womack as the White Witch with the Lion Aslan played by Chris Jared with the help of puppeteers Oliver Grant, Shaun McCourt and Sean Lopeman.
The wintry tale is having its first preview tonight in the middle of the heatwave.
Tonnes of bio-degradable snow will be used to ensure it remains winter in Narnia despite the scorching temperatures outside the Gillian Lynne Theatre in Drury Lane with the fake snow also falling from the roof of the building as the audience enters.
Around 1.5kg of the fake snow is used in every show and the production team think they will get through around 330kg by the end of the run.
Director Michael Fentiman said: “The production celebrates the magic of live theatre and is led by a multi-talented cast of actors, singers, musicians, dancers and puppeteers; it is a celebration of the possibilities of the collective imagination and the boundless wonders of individual skill.
“This story, about a community battling hardship in the darkest of winters, who together find freedom again in the light of summer, couldn’t be more pertinent for these times.”
The show is set to run until January 8 and is part of the Kids Week audience initiative where throughout August children aged 17 and under can see a show for free when accompanied by a paying adult, with half price tickets for two additional children in the same group - and no booking fees.
Kids Week tickets are on sale now via OfficialLondonTheatre.com
