The celebrated Leeds Playhouse production of CS Lewis classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – loved by audiences and critics alike during its recent West End run – will return to Leeds Playhouse this Christmas (November 18-January 25).
The run will kick off another national tour - including a booking for Christmas 2025 at Salford's Lowry Theatre, (December 3, 2025-January 11, 2026).
Award-winning Katy Stephens will play the White Witch. Her extensive stage career includes leading roles at Shakespeare’s Globe and the Royal Shakespeare Company with whom she is an associate artist. Katy was a member of the team that won the Olivier award for best ensemble performance for the RSC’s Histories Cycle, where her roles included Joan of Arc and Margaret of Anjou.
Katy said: “The thought of casting a spell over Narnia to make it always winter but never Christmas is simply tantalising. Let the magic begin!”
The book was first published in October 1950, and since then over 85 million copies in 60 languages have been sold. It is one of the top 10 best-selling books of all time. This stage adaptation enjoyed a hugely successful London run in 2022-3.
Director Michael Fentiman added: “The production celebrates the magic of live theatre and is led by a multi-talented cast of actors, singers, musicians, dancers and puppeteers; it is a celebration of the possibilities of the collective imagination and the boundless wonders of individual skill.”