Review: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, UK tour Glasgow
- Lisa in the theatre
- Jun 11
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 13
The stage adaptation of CS Lewis' beloved novel The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe has arrived in Glasgow. The current UK tour coincides with the 75th anniversary of the book, and plays in Glasgow until 14 June.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is directed by Michael Fentiman and is based on the original production by Sally Cookson.
Review: The King's Theatre, Glasgow | 10 June 2025
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe UK tour review | The King's Theatre, Glasgow ★★★★☆
The Glasgow King's Theatre becomes the gateway to Narnia this week as audiences are invited to step through the wardrobe with the Pevensie children and set off on an adventure to meet mysterious creatures in a land of eternal winter.
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was the first book (published in 1950), and is arguably the best known, of CS Lewis's seven Narnia novels. Inspired by the author hosting child evacuees in his home during World War Two, the story is frequently found on lists of the best loved books of all time.
The stage adaptation is a play with music that relies on a large company of talented actor-musicians and adorable puppets to tell the story. It's a huge scale show that takes us from 1940s Britain and an old wardrobe in a spare room, to the mysterious land of Narnia and it's many wondrous delights. There are talking animals, breath-taking illusions and bewitching live music and dance.
The classic 'Chronicle of Narnia' story brought to life on stage
The Pevensie children - Lucy (Kudzai Mangombe), Susan (Joanna Adaran), Edmund (Bunmi Osadolor) and Peter (Jesse Dunbar) - are evacuated from London to escape the war, and are sent to live in Scotland with Professor Kirke (Kraig Thornber) and his cat Schrödinger. When exploring the old house, Lucy finds a large wardrobe in an empty spare room. She steps inside and is transported to a snowy wonderland where she meets a strange talking faun, Mr Tumnus (Alfie Richards).
Through Mr Tumnus Lucy learns that she is in Narnia and that it has been in a permanent winter for over 100 years thanks to Jadis, the White Witch (Katy Stephens) who has styled herself as Queen and rules the land by fear. Returning home Lucy convinces her brothers and sister to return with her to Narnia, where with the help of beavers, squirrels and badgers they find themselves part of an ancient prophecy and in the midst of a battle between Jadis and Aslan, the rightful Lion King of Narnia (Stanton Wright).
A beautifully choreographed, super slick production
Michael Fentiman's production is of course a touring theatre production and the set at first seems odd. Dark and baren with large circles cut out of it, it looks like something from a steampunk world and doesn't immediately scream 'Narnia'. However the logistical considerations of frequently following the Pevensie children back and forth between locations and watching Narnia itself morph from Winter to Spring etc means that the staging of this rich, complex story was always going to be a challenge.
Tom Paris's set did grow on me as it revealed itself to be more detailed than a first glance, with various levels and interesting openings allowing the complex multi-character story to be intricately woven and beautifully choreographed. The production values are excellent and the show runs like a finely oiled machine. I'm eternally grateful they didn't go down the route of using bright video screens and projections to tell this story. This feels like a traditional, high-quality presentation akin to receiving a well made wooden toy at Christmas as opposed to a cheap colourful bit of plastic.
Jack Knowles lighting is spectacular and really brings the set alive. But like the recent The Girl on the Train, this is a show I'm going to recommend that you sit upstairs for if you are able. The stage floor is put to great use here with light accents and effects that enhance the story and punctuate key plot points. I'm not sure all of that will be visible from some seats in the stalls.
I do wish the initial Narnia reveal, when Lucy steps through the wardrobe for the very first time, had been more dazzling, more magical. A few soft flutters of snow does not have the powerful impact that seeing the bright white world of eternal winter deserves.
Theatrical magic
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe features some very impressive aerial moments. There are fun magic tricks scattered throughout the show too, as well as a couple of genuinely astonishing illusions worthy of David Blaine.
The puppetry is another highlight, with a particularly gorgeous moment with glowing cubes of Turkish Delight. Principal animals Schrodinger the cat and Aslan the lion are both unforgettable creations. The Aslan puppet does look most impressive from the front. When it turns to the side and is revealed to be just half a lion, it does look a little strange! (It would perhaps have been more impressive if I hadn't recently witnessed the incredible, full body puppets in War Horse.)
Nevertheless Aslan's first entrance in this show is powerful and moving. Coupled with the rousing music, it gave me goosebumps. The human incarnation of Alsan (Stanton Wright) appears dressed like Thorin Oakenshield - full bearded and drowned in furs - to the side of the puppet, and the synergy with which both puppet and human move and work together is very well done.
Some of the other talking animals costumining is not so vivid and it's not always entirely evident which creature they are meant to be until they introduce themselves. But every actor throws them into the their roles with great energy and enthusiasm, and the overall impression is sure to charm both children and adults alike.
Spellbinding but a little scary
The lead cast are excellent, with the four Pevensie children particularly impressive. Each gives their character their individual traits and personalities we know well from the book. Lucy's diction in particular is beautifully crisp and clear.
Katy Stephens' White Witch is outstanding; she commands the stage every time she steps foot on it with just the right level of intimidation to scare, but not terrorise, small children. Some of the Queen's henchmen (The Cruels) are a tad more terrifying, and there are some dark moments in this story with battles and death - so do note the age guidance of ages 6+
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is a spellbinding piece of theatre that is a satisfying tribute to CS Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia legacy. Let's hope the next six book are likewise adapted for the stage soon! ★★★★☆
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe plays at The King's Theatre, Glasgow from Tuesday 10 – Saturday 14 June 2025, and then continues on tour across the UK until January 2026.
Also playing in Glasgow this week: Read my review of the latest Peter James Grace adaption Picture You Dead here
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe UK tour - Scottish dates
King’s Theatre, Glasgow
10 – 14 June 2025
His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen
17 – 21 June 2025
Eden Court Highlands, Inverness
24 – 28 June 2025
The stage production returns to London in 2025 for three weeks only! Sadler's Wells 20 August - 7 September 2025. More info here: https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe play / on stage - UK tour cast
Katy Stephens The White Witch
The Pevensie Children:
Joanna Adaran Susan
Jesse Dunbar Peter
Kudzai Mangombe Lucy
Bunmi Osadolor Edmund
Archie Combe, Andrew Davison, Anya de Villiers, Molly Francis, Ruby Greenwood, Ffion Haf, Rhiannon Hopkins,
Joe Keenan, Oliver Magor, JB Maya, Luca Moscardini, Alfie Richards, Kraig Thornber, Ed Thorpe, Rhodri Watkins, Shane Anthony Whiteley, Stanton Wright.
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