“Wonderful and really magical.” The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Sadler’s Wells, London
August 20, 2025

Director Michael Fentiman has created a wonderful rendition of the much-loved C.S. Lewis story about four children who walk through a wardrobe into the magical land of Nania, where good and evil plays out, with good, of course, eventually winning.

This production is festooned with magical effects, and magnificent puppetry (puppet design by Max Humphries) in the creation of the larger-than-life lion-god Aslan, and the perfectly delightful Schroedinger cat. Twenty-three multitalented performers act, dance, and sing their way through the musical. They also provide the live music, playing a highly mobile piano and a selection of instruments. The addition of live music adds tremendously to the quality and feel of the piece.

The dance is a delight, and the choreography by Shannelle ‘Tali’ Fergus is never dull, encompassing both folk and national dances alongside more traditional pop-style chorus dancing.

The acting manages to stay just on the right side of sentimental. Andrew Davison gave a sterling performance as Wilson Schrodinger, which is all the more impressive as he also plays three other characters. Alfie Richards got Mr. Tumnus just right, Ed Thorpe’s beaver was suitably egotistical. I could have done with a little more depth in Katy Stephens’ characterisation of the Witch, however. I just found it difficult to believe.

The set design by Tom Paris is beguilingly simple, yet takes on the atmospheric changes required by the story perfectly. The lighting, designed by Jack Knowles, is rather on the dark side a lot of the time; a great shame as some of the off-centre stage business was difficult to see.

Overall though, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is a great show that’s guaranteed to delight youngsters and their grown-ups alike. As my eight-year old grandson commented on the way home, “That show was wonderful and really magical.” What more needs to be said!

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is at Sadler’s Wells to September 7, 2025, then on tour to January 2026 (click here for dates and venues).