Classical Children's Plays

This musical version of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is much more than a magical adventure story. The adventure story is wonderful, but the reason it’s a classic is because of the great and complex truths that lie beneath it. It examines human nature’s capacity for both great evil and great good. This musical stage adaptation not only recognizes these same truths, but brings them into the open on stage, through the spoken word, poetic song, and dance. We were very careful in how we approached this task. The musical style evokes ancient mythology and chivalry, while the dances – simple enough for children – are graceful and expressive of Narnia’s magical atmosphere. The songs also create chorus roles for children who are not old enough for speaking roles. Finally, every song aims to convey the transcendent nature of the most meaningful moments in the story. But how does this script itself express the depth and complexity of Lewis’ work? The tale is ultimately one of sin and redemption, humility and forgiveness. The entire plot only makes sense if Aslan's willing self-sacrifice and resurrection is given central focus. While many other stage adaptations concentrate on the children's path to becoming kings and queens, we have followed Lewis’ lead in structuring the entire story to lead up to Aslan’s sacrifice – making it clear what impact his action has on the Pevensie children, the battle against the White Witch, and Narnia as a whole.