the lion, the witch and the wardrobe | responses

"Simple magic. This production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe creates a wonderful confection from humble ingredients.”
- Kathleen Oliver, The Georgia Straight

"Theatre is a magical playground, but some shows remember that magic better than others. Ron Reed’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe runs on magic.”
- Chelsey Stuyt, Vancouver Presents

“A spare but sparkling adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s tale.”
- The Georgia Straight

“A remarkable evening of enchantment. Take the whole family, and all your friends. They will thank you for it.”
- Monika Forberger, Entertainment Vancouver

“Those of us who grew up with Narnia are remembering a story we’ve known since childhood while imagining the world suggested by the stage. The line between memory and imagination blurs, each serving as a doorway to the other as surely as a wardrobe is a doorway to a snowy wood.”
- Steven Gomez, CSG Stories

"Strikingly physical […] images of Narnia are evoked through skillful storytelling and, with the help of an assortment of fur coats, accomplished stagecraft.
- John Jane, reviewvancouver

the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe | meet the crew

We are just about ready for tonight's preview performance of THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE! Here are the artists working behind the scenes, busy putting on the final touches before an audience makes its way into the show.

Sarah Rodgers (Director): A long-time member of the PT family, Sarah last directed THE CHRISTIANS on our stage.

Lauchlin Johnston (Set Designer): This is Lauchlin's third time designing for THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, previously doing lights for our 2012 tour and then doing sets and lights for the musical version in Rosebud.

Julie Casselman (Sound Designer): Julie works as a sound designer, composer, actor, and writer all over town, and she was nominated for a Jessie Award for her sound design for OUTSIDE MULLINGAR at PT.

Sheila White (Costume Designer): The last time we worked with Sheila was for DRIVING MISS DAISY in the 2007-08 season. Since then she has been busy designing for television as well as theatres all over town.

Dianna Lewis (Props Manager): This is the first time we have worked with Dianna, who manages props for our sister company in Abbotsford, Gallery 7 Theatre.

Linnea Perry (Stage Manager): Linnea is one of this season's apprentices, who has already worked on KIM'S CONVENIENCE and is co-producing the upcoming HARK! A STONE'S THROW CHRISTMAS SHOW.

Shelby Wyminga (Assistant Director): Another of our season apprentices, Shelby has been soaking in whatever she can learn as assistant director. You may have already seen her first apprentice project, a reading of her script A HERO FOR NOW.

John Webber (Lighting Designer): John has been a PT regular for years, and we are always thrilled to have him on board. Last time around, he designed lights for TOLKIEN.

the lion, the witch and the wardrobe | meet the cast

The cast of THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE is made up of two faces who should be very familiar to regular PT audiences: Rebecca deBoer (OUTSIDE MULLINGAR) and John Voth (THE LONESOME WEST, THE FOREIGNER). We asked them what their personal connection was to this magical story.

Rebecca deBoer: I am excited about this show because of the new challenge it presents me as an actor (8 characters!), because of who I get to do it with (Sarah Rodgers! John Voth!), because I get to join the long line of fabulous actors who have done this show before me, and (perhaps most?) because this will be the first show that my daughters can come see me in!

John Voth: I grew up reading Narnia! The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe was also one of the first plays I acted in high school. It was a musical and I had face paint on.

the lion, the witch and the wardrobe | first rehearsal

On Monday morning, we all gathered around the table for the first table read of THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE! We had a lot of laughs and a few tears as we journeyed back to Narnia for the first time in many years.