The magical realm of Narnia will come to Kingston this Christmas as the Rose Theatre presents a new production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
The High Street venue will present CS Lewis’ children’s classic this December, adapted for the stage by Theresa Heskins’ and directed by Ciaran McConville, the Rose’s director of learning and participation.
And children from across Kingston are being invited to appear on stage as part of the production.
The theatre will be holding open auditions for youngsters aged 11-18 years to join the Rose Youth Theatre and perform in the show alongside the professional cast.
Having set a high bar after last year’s hugely successful Snow Gorilla, theatre bosses will be hoping the combination of a well loved children’s classic coupled with the involvement of Kingston children will provide the theatre with its second hit winter show in a row.
Read what we said about last year's Christmas show The Snow Gorilla.
A performance of The Snow Gorilla.
Mr McConville said: “This is a much-loved story and whilst we must hold on to the heart of it, we want to blow away any cobwebs and bring a family of children to this stage who take us on an extraordinary adventure of the imagination.
“This promises to be theatre at its most involving and exhilarating - when you leave at the end of the show it will be like stepping back out of the wardrobe.”
The story follows the Pevensie children, who are evacuated during the Blitz to a rural country house, where they discover a dusty old wardrobe leading to Narnia – a wintery wonderland ruled by the evil white witch.
The production will open on December 4, with previews from 28 November, and run until January 4 2015.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow from noon.
Details on children’s auditions for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the Rose Theatre will be released in the next few days.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Rose Theatre, High Street, Kingston; December 4, 2014 to January 4, 2015 (previews from November 28); visit Rosetheatrekingston.org or call 0844 482 1556
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