Not many haven't been acquainted with C.S Lewis' classic tale The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe. The magical novel immerses you in the land of Narnia and the theatre adaptation sets out to do the same.
Described by its Bristol based director Michael Fentiman as ‘total theatre’ this epic new production is a mixture of dance, puppetry and actor-musicianship. Audience members of all ages are invited to step through the wardrobe into the enchanted kingdom of Narnia.
What can be more exciting than joining childhood heroes Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they wave goodbye to wartime Britain and embark on the most magical of adventures in a frozen, faraway land where they meet a faun, talking beavers, noble Aslan and the evil White Witch.
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The cast is star studded and features the likes of Samantha Womack playing Narnia’s evil White Witch; as she is joined by Ammar Duffus (Peter Pevensie), Shaka Kalokoh (Edmund Pevensie), Robyn Sinclair (Susan Pevensie) and Karise Yansen (Lucy Pevensie).
Humble hero Aslan is played by Chris Jared, much loved Mr Tumnus by Jez Unwin, Mr Beaver by Sam Buttery and Maugrim by Michael Ahomka-Lindsay. Along with many other talented cast members.
Speaking with Bristol Live, director Michael Fentiman spoke about bringing such as classic tale to life saying that when he first started working on it it was "really stressful" as every page of the book is full of huge imagery, magic and transformation. "Those images live in my mind from when I was nine years old" he said.
"But to recreate those things on stage is really challenging as it gives you lots of problems to solve. I spent about a year and a half planning the production before we got into rehearsals just so we had some solutions to those," he explained.
"Initially it was a load of stress but then we hit rehearsals with the guys and it was really exciting. Then we went into tech during the pandemic and it was stressful again; and now it's in Bristol I'm just really proud.
"I've gone through a real journey from excitement, to stress, to excitement again to now just being really, really proud of a team that have kept the story really brilliant and magical. and now they're ending that on a high in the city I call my home."
Chris Jared, who plays Aslan advises the audience to "pull into the story and awaken your imagination". Speaking to Bristol Live, the cast detail how the show allows you to connect with your inner child whilst being skilfully crafted to engage audiences of all ages " we're for all the family, from 6-106" Fentiman said.
Oliver Bingham, Oliver Grant and Shaun McCourt operate the impressively huge Aslan puppet which demands huge skill and talent. "You see the object and it has to come to life, you see all of this spectacle around you and think 'how can I best serve this" they explained.
Bingham, Grant, McCourt and Jared work together to bring much-loved Aslan to life and they explain how it's essential that they are all in sync with each other whilst allowing the puppet to have the authenticity and freedom of an animal.
"You have to deliver the story upfront whilst having eyes in the back of your head to navigate each other" Jared explained. "You're in very close quarters with each other and that has it's own difficulties."
The cast are excited for the audiences reactions when Aslan is welcomed on stage, saying: "they've seen the witch, they've seen the wardrobe and they're waiting, impatiently, for Aslan. I think that's a really feast for all of the senses, as is the whole show."
The show appears to be perfectly casted to make the most of the actors abilities however Fentiman said if he was to place Bingham, Grant, McCourt and Jared in different roles he would demand they play the White Witch Jadis, saying "you all have to play different aspects of her but with the same costume. All four of them should play Jadis - on the same night, with the same costume".
To make their job just a little harder, he declared that the team wouldn't be allowed to plan the intricacies until the show starts and there should be no rehearsals. He finished his comment by declaring who he would appear as, if he was to be placed in the show saying: "And I would like to play Mr Beaver - because it's the only thing I have the vague ability to".
Tue 3 May - Sat 7 May 2022 and tickets can be purchased from the ATG website.
