The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (touring) ★★★★★

The familiar story is told at pace. Once discovered, the wardrobe – an ever-present feature on the vast Leeds Playhouse stage – is explored and in no time, Lucy is pushing through the coats into the magical world of Narnia.  In this land, instantly entrancing with ethereal mummers dressed in white gowns and intoning anthems both beautiful and haunting, Lucy meets Mr Tumnus (Alfie Richards). The scene between human and faun is witty and when Richards sings, in his rich baritone, of longing for spring, it is both spine tingling and hugely relatable.  Instantly establishing a great rapport, Tumnus’ conscience-wrestling regarding his loyalty to the evil White Witch or the safety of the child is real.

The Pevensie children behave as a family would: establishing Edmund as the most troubled and subversive, the fights between him and his siblings are properly angry and painful.  Susan is appropriately nerdish and sensible whilst Peter does his best to present the voice of reason despite being only a boy himself.  Lucy has both the innocent delight of a child and also the foot-stamping petulance of the youngest.  The adult actors in these roles are believably youthful without patronising their characters.

Edmund’s encounter with the White Witch (Katy Stephens) is both terrifying and magical as she arrives on a gun carriage dragged by black-clad beasts who scarcely raise their heads but swarm malevolently across the stage – more than a nod in their costumes to German stormtroopers. Whilst Edmund is corrupted by her magical temptations, his Turkish delight literally dances in illuminated cubes.