The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

Edmund meets Aslan

A huge merangue-shaped tent has appeared in the corner of Kensington Gardens. Step inside and you will be transported into an magical world where trees walk, real snow falls and mysterious creatures pop up from nowhere. Set on a revolving stage, Threesixty Theatre's production of CS Lewis' The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, uses a mix of Cirque du Solei style acrobatics, massive puppets, song and dance routines and constantly-moving projections on the walls and roof of the tent to retell this classic children's story.

The play opens in wartime England with the four young evaquees from London - Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, still with their gasmasks, arriving in the rather bleak country house where they have been sent to live. The wardrobe appears, and little Lucy, beautifully played by Rebecca Benson, steps inside. In no time the entire theatre is transformed into a mysterious wilderness and the adventure begins.

Forbes Masson makes a kindly Mr Tumnus. Sally Dexter plays a really nasty White Witch, (with a horrible speech impediment) and Paul Barnhill and Sophie Louise Dann are an amusing pair as Mr & Mrs Beaver.

The changing dynamics between the children, so well written by CS Lewis, comes out beautifully in this production: the easily-led young Edmund (Jonny Weldon) memersized by the Wicked Witch with Turkish Delight who betrays his siblings; the quiet and sensible Susan (Carly Bawden) and brave older brother (Phil Labey).

But it is Aslan the Lion - played by a massive puppet manned by actors and voiced by David Suchet that gives real heart to the production. When he sacrificed his life to save Edmund, the audience - especially the young children were just gripped. His return to life is a high point in the show that brought people to their feet with applause.

Overall - its an enjoyable production with marvellous special effects. I thought the massive lion with his huge roar might scare younger children. It made me jump. But I've been assured by a couple of six year olds that they weren't frightened at all.

The show runs until 9 September. For more information call the Box Office now on 0844 871 7693 or see: http://web.lionwitchtheshow.com/ (there is a nice video preview)