On Stage: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Category: stage 564

Theatre New Brunswick’s holiday production is an adventurous romp through the land of Narnia.

Jean Fraser

Theatre New Brunswick‘s production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe opens this Thursday at the Fredericton Playhouse. Following a four performance run in Fredericton, the show will then hit the road for performances in Saint John and Moncton.

Large scale productions have become a holiday tradition at TNB and this season’s show is no exception.

To share the story, TNB welcome a ten actor cast that pairs national award winning actors of stage, film and television with four young actors from New Brunswick. Elena Hrkalovic (Susan), Sasha Mais (Lucy), Ben Rutter (Edmond), and Carter Scott (Peter) will each make their professional stage debut alongside and impressive cast of accomplished actors from across the country whose collective experience includes roles on Star Trek Discovery, Designated Survivor, Little Mosque on the Prairie, and Nikita, as well as appearances on some of Canada’s best-known stages including Stratford, Shaw Festival, Soulpepper, Vancouver Playhouse, Canadian Stage and others.

“I think there’s a lot of freedom in the creative process,” said Carter Scott, one of four young actors involved in the show. “There’s a lot of trust put into us as actors and that’s been really freeing in many ways.”

For this production, TNB welcomes Toronto-based director Lynda Hill.  Hill is currently in her 17th and final season as Artistic Director of Theatre Direct Canada, one of the Country’s foremost innovators of theatre for young audiences.

“This adaptation of the first book in the universally loved Narnia chronicles takes us on a snowy and rapid ride through action,” said Hill. “It captures the essence of the story and its central characters so efficiently while delivering an inspiring affirmation of the power of the imagination and the resiliency of young people.”

Rounding out an impressive cast and directorial lineup, TNB’s production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe also includes the work of three accomplished designers.

Set and costumes for the show have been designed by long-time TNB collaborator Patrick Clark, a recipient of the Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for High Achievement in Performing Arts. Clark and his work are in-demand nationally and his list of accomplishments include design work with the who’s who of Canadian theatre including the Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, and Soulpepper Theatre among many others.

Light Designer Leigh Ann Vardy returns for another season at TNB. In recent seasons she designed for productions of Marion Bridge, Ghost Light and last year’s holiday production of A Christmas Carol. She is a multiple award-winning designer and is a regular instructor and coach at the National Theatre School.

Toronto-based composer and sound designer Deanna Choi returns to TNB for this production, following recent work composing for Fortune of Wolves and The Boat.

Tickets for all performances are going fast so don’t wait.  You won’t want to miss this show!

Upcoming Performances:

December 13-15 | Fredericton Playhouse | 7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. matinee on Saturday) | TICKETS
December 16 | Imperial Theatre | Saint John | 7:30 p.m. | TICKETS
December 19-20 | théâtre l’Escaouette | Moncton | 7:30 p.m. | TICKETS

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