Yorkshire

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-On-high-Katy-Stephens-The-White-Witch.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-1.jpg" alt="Katy Stephens as The White Witch aerial view" class="wp-image-1206" style="aspect-ratio:1.499267935578331;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-On-high-Katy-Stephens-The-White-Witch.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-On-high-Katy-Stephens-The-White-Witch.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-On-high-Katy-Stephens-The-White-Witch.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-On-high-Katy-Stephens-The-White-Witch.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Katy Stephens (The White Witch). Photo by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.</figcaption></figure>



There was a frisson of excitement at the Leeds Playhouse – and not just because we&#8217;d made it through Storm Bert unscathed and self-medicating with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. It was opening weekend of the&nbsp;spell-binding West End hit The Lion, The Witch &amp; the Wardrobe, and Yorkshire was the first stop before a UK and Ireland tour. Why the hype? Well the production throws the kitchen sink at CS Lewis&#8217;s iconic tale – brought to life by a multi-talented cast and the production prowess of three times Olivier-nominated Michael (Amélie) Fentiman and Associate Director Pip (West End Harry Potter and Wicked) Minnithorpe .



Storm Bert brought snow, floods and rain but our pre-show train ride to Leeds wasn&#8217;t as dramatic as the one that sets the opening scene here, with its smooth-as-clockwork choreography, mingling musicians and magical props. A solo pianist in tin hat playing war-time tunes sets the scene, with the occasional blast of a train whistle echoing in the distance. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Bunmi-Osadolor-Edmund-Jesse-Dunbar-Peter-Kudzai-Mangombe-Lucy-Joanna-Adaran-Susan.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-1500-x-1000.jpg" alt="Four children Edmund, Peter, Lucy and Susan Lion, Witch and Wardrobe" class="wp-image-1207" style="aspect-ratio:1.499267935578331;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Bunmi-Osadolor-Edmund-Jesse-Dunbar-Peter-Kudzai-Mangombe-Lucy-Joanna-Adaran-Susan.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-1500-x-1000.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Bunmi-Osadolor-Edmund-Jesse-Dunbar-Peter-Kudzai-Mangombe-Lucy-Joanna-Adaran-Susan.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-1500-x-1000-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Bunmi-Osadolor-Edmund-Jesse-Dunbar-Peter-Kudzai-Mangombe-Lucy-Joanna-Adaran-Susan.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-1500-x-1000-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Bunmi-Osadolor-Edmund-Jesse-Dunbar-Peter-Kudzai-Mangombe-Lucy-Joanna-Adaran-Susan.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-1500-x-1000-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bunmi Osadolor (Edmund), Jesse Dunbar (Peter), Kudzai Mangombo (Lucy), Joanna Adaran (Susan). Photo by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.</figcaption></figure>



Then suddenly the stage bursts into life as we&#8217;re transported to a busy railway station where we find our four main characters: the Pevensie children, Peter (Jesse Dunbar); Susan (Joanna Adaran); Edmund (Bunmi Osadolor) and lovable Lucy (Kudzai Mangombe), squabbling as siblings do before a daunting evacuation to Scotland.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Train-The-Lion-The-Witch-and-The-Wardrobe.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-3.jpg" alt="Train from Lion, Witch &amp; Wardrobe" class="wp-image-1210" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Train-The-Lion-The-Witch-and-The-Wardrobe.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-3.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Train-The-Lion-The-Witch-and-The-Wardrobe.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Train-The-Lion-The-Witch-and-The-Wardrobe.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Train-The-Lion-The-Witch-and-The-Wardrobe.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-3-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg</figcaption></figure>



The puppetry Professor’s cat Schroedinger is both adorable and believable, and the audience is hooked by the time we tumble through the wardrobe with the children into the mystical, frosty world of Narnia.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Kudzai-Mangombe-Lucy-Alfie-Richards-Mr-Tumnus.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.jpg" alt="Lucy and Mr Tumnus in Lion, Witch and Wardrobe" class="wp-image-1212" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Kudzai-Mangombe-Lucy-Alfie-Richards-Mr-Tumnus.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Kudzai-Mangombe-Lucy-Alfie-Richards-Mr-Tumnus.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Kudzai-Mangombe-Lucy-Alfie-Richards-Mr-Tumnus.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Kudzai-Mangombe-Lucy-Alfie-Richards-Mr-Tumnus.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kudzai Mangombe (Lucy), Alfie Richards (Mr Tumnus). Photo by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.</figcaption></figure>



Mr Tumnus (Alfie Richards) is a local actor from Harrogate enjoying his Leeds Playhouse debut with a voice as sweet as his gentle faun’s nature, while the hapless Mr Beaver (Ed Thorpe) brings chuckle-out-loud comic relief with his familiar strong Yorkshire accent and unintentional bluntness, soon reprimanded by his feisty wife (Anya de Villiers).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1001" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Kraig-Thornber-Father-Xmas.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-2.jpg" alt="Father Xmas and cast The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" class="wp-image-1214" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Kraig-Thornber-Father-Xmas.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Kraig-Thornber-Father-Xmas.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Kraig-Thornber-Father-Xmas.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Kraig-Thornber-Father-Xmas.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-2-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kraig Thornber (Father Xmas). Photo by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.</figcaption></figure>



Father Xmas (played by Kraig Thornber, also the Professor and Wise Old Owl) makes a joyous and happy cameo giving out all-important gifts, as well as socks and knickers to poor old downtrodden Mr B.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Katy-1500-x-1000-Stephens-The-White-Witch-Bunmi-Osadolor-Edmund.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-5.jpg" alt="The White Witch on chariot and Edmund Lion, Witch and Wardrobe " class="wp-image-1216" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Katy-1500-x-1000-Stephens-The-White-Witch-Bunmi-Osadolor-Edmund.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-5.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Katy-1500-x-1000-Stephens-The-White-Witch-Bunmi-Osadolor-Edmund.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-5-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Katy-1500-x-1000-Stephens-The-White-Witch-Bunmi-Osadolor-Edmund.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-5-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Katy-1500-x-1000-Stephens-The-White-Witch-Bunmi-Osadolor-Edmund.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-5-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Katy Stephens (The White Witch), Bunmi Osadolor (Edmund). Photo by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.</figcaption></figure>



The power of the production lies at the menacing and mesmerising entrances of The White Witch (Katy Stephens), with sinister star turns including riding a chariot as commandingly and ferociously as Queen Boudicca as well as flying to the heavens with her robes billowing below, making both her intended victims and audience cower. 



The first half leaves us on a knife edge and we return from interval to hear the North Wind gusting ominously, again ensuring the audience remains in the icy grip of the story.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Lion-and-3-children-The-Lion-The-Witch-and-The-Wardrobe-company.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-17.jpg" alt="The Lion and three children Lion Witch &amp; Wardrobe" class="wp-image-1217" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Lion-and-3-children-The-Lion-The-Witch-and-The-Wardrobe-company.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-17.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Lion-and-3-children-The-Lion-The-Witch-and-The-Wardrobe-company.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-17-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Lion-and-3-children-The-Lion-The-Witch-and-The-Wardrobe-company.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-17-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Lion-and-3-children-The-Lion-The-Witch-and-The-Wardrobe-company.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-17-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe company. Photo by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.</figcaption></figure>



The build-up to The Lion’s return is masterly and it’s another wow moment when the larger-than-life prowling puppetry of Aslan finally appears, (empathetically acted in shadow human form by a fur-coated Stanton Wright). With similarities in technique, it’s little surprise to learn that Original Puppetry Director Toby Olié cut his teeth on War Horse.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1001" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Bunmi-Osadolor-Edmund-Katy-Stephens-The-White-Witch.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-1500-x-1000.jpg" alt="Edmund and White Witch The Lion, The Witch and Wardrobe" class="wp-image-1218" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Bunmi-Osadolor-Edmund-Katy-Stephens-The-White-Witch.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-1500-x-1000.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Bunmi-Osadolor-Edmund-Katy-Stephens-The-White-Witch.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-1500-x-1000-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Bunmi-Osadolor-Edmund-Katy-Stephens-The-White-Witch.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-1500-x-1000-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Bunmi-Osadolor-Edmund-Katy-Stephens-The-White-Witch.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-1500-x-1000-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bunmi Osadolor (Edmund), Katy Stephens (White Witch). Photo by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.</figcaption></figure>



This edge-of-the-seat entertainment is magically woven together by stunning special effects, jaw-dropping stage settings, uplifting songs and haunting music accompanying frenetic on-stage action which never stops. Illusions, aerial manoeuvres, lighting effects, trickery and lightning costume and character changes mean you need to keep your wits about you.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1001" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Kudzai-Mango1500-x-1000-Kudzai-Mangombe-Lucy-Stanton-Wright-Aslan-Joanna-Adaran-Susan.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.jpg" alt="Lucy and Susan with Aslan" class="wp-image-1220" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Kudzai-Mango1500-x-1000-Kudzai-Mangombe-Lucy-Stanton-Wright-Aslan-Joanna-Adaran-Susan.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Kudzai-Mango1500-x-1000-Kudzai-Mangombe-Lucy-Stanton-Wright-Aslan-Joanna-Adaran-Susan.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Kudzai-Mango1500-x-1000-Kudzai-Mangombe-Lucy-Stanton-Wright-Aslan-Joanna-Adaran-Susan.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/Kudzai-Mango1500-x-1000-Kudzai-Mangombe-Lucy-Stanton-Wright-Aslan-Joanna-Adaran-Susan.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kudzai Mangombe (Lucy), Stanton Wright (Aslan), Joanna Adaran (Susan). Photo by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.</figcaption></figure>



As it’s one of my favourite childhood books, I was apprehensive my memories might be tarnished, but I needn’t have worried. This has to be one of my favourite ever productions and if the tickets don’t sell out before January 2025 like they threaten to, then I’d quite happily return.



Surprisingly, perhaps, the friend I was with had never read this legendary Chronicles of Narnia novel now celebrating its 75th year or even seen the 2005 film, but she was like a child, openly amazed by the stylish and slick production, with her non-biased opinion as the curtain fell being: best – show – ever.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Cast-of-The-Lion-The-Witch-and-The-Wardrobe.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-17.jpg" alt="Cast of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. " class="wp-image-1222" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Cast-of-The-Lion-The-Witch-and-The-Wardrobe.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-17.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Cast-of-The-Lion-The-Witch-and-The-Wardrobe.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-17-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Cast-of-The-Lion-The-Witch-and-The-Wardrobe.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-17-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/11/1500-x-1000-Cast-of-The-Lion-The-Witch-and-The-Wardrobe.-Photo-by-Brinkhoff-Moegenburg-17-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cast of The Lion, The Witch &amp; The Wardrobe. Photo by Brinhoff-Moegenburg.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



Good for: Families with older kids (age 6+) and theatre lovers who enjoy a fresh twist on a classic tale. This beautiful, tightly-knit production enhances the much-loved book and film, being a feast for all senses.



Not for: Under 6s may struggle to last – it&#8217;s a lengthy 2 hrs 15 mins. A couple of scenes are thrillingly scary – even for adults! 



<a href="https://www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe</a> is being performed at the Leeds Playhouse’s Quarry Theatre, until Sat 25 Jan 2025 ahead of a tour of the UK and Ireland. Book tickets from £15.

Review: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe at Leeds Playhouse

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