The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Visual Story

A Sherman Cymru production
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Visual Story
This is a visual resource for children and adults with a learning disability,
Autism Spectrum Condition, Down’s syndrome or a sensory and
communication disorder. This resource is intended to help prepare
visitors for their visit to the Sherman and to help them become familiar
with their surroundings.
These notes are designed to help when preparing for a visit to see The
Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
We look forward to welcoming you to the theatre and hope you enjoy The
Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. If you have any comments or
feedback about this pack please do not hesitate to get in touch with us
by emailing:
creative.learning@shermancymru.co.uk
Coming to the theatre
What to expect
The Sherman Theatre is on Senghennydd Road and this is what it looks like from
the outside:
You will go in through the front doors under the archway. Once inside you will be in
the foyer.
The foyer can get quite busy before the show as everyone waits to go into the main
auditorium (where the play is shown) so it will be quite full of people.
We have used purple lights to make it a bit more Christmassy but there will be lots
of light so you can see where you’re going. In the foyer there is the Ticketing desk
where you can get your tickets and a bar when you can buy drinks and sweets.
! When the show is about to start, a loud bell rings in the foyer. This is to let
everyone know they need to be inside the auditorium for the show to start.
Inside the auditorium
The auditorium is where the audience sits and watches the show. On your ticket it
will say your seat number. The seat numbers are on the inside of your chairs.
This is what the audience seating looks like. The audience (that’s you) sit on the
chairs facing the stage, and when the play starts the lights are turned down so you
can only see the stage. The actors perform on the stage.
The set
What it looks like
The set has been designed with lots of special elements that help it change into
Narnia. The floor is painted to look like it is frozen.
There is a big screen at the back which has lights and images projected onto it, and
some of the pieces of the set drop in from above the stage.
This is all controlled carefully by the technical team back stage.
It also has a moving
stage called a revolve,
which helps the
characters move around
the stage quickly and
easily. The revolve is
made of two big circles
in the floor that can
move using a motor
which is underneath the
stage.
Images reproduced with
thanks © Nick Allsop
Characters
In Narnia, the children meet some magical creatures including a lion, a faun, two
beavers and a wolf, as well as an evil witch. Some of the actors play more than
one part. Here are the main characters you will see in the play:
This is Gwawr
This is Joseph
This is Elin
This is Matthew
She plays Lucy, the
youngest sister.
He plays Peter, the
older brother.
She plays Susan, the
older sister.
He plays Edmund, the
youngest brother.
This is Kieron
This is Pete
This is Matthew.
This is Anita
He plays the
Professor, a wolf &
Father Christmas.
He plays Mr Tumnus,
who is half man, half
goat.
He plays the part of
Aslan, the lion.
She plays the White
Witch.
This is Kate
This is Howard
She plays Mrs Beaver
and Mrs Macready.
He plays Mr Beaver.
This is Gareth, the
Musical Director
You will see him on
stage playing music.
Music
There are lots of songs in the play, and the actors all use a range of different
instruments, which include:
French Horn
Flute
Cornet
Violin
Euphonium
Other instruments
There are also some percussion instruments
(different types of drums) that are used to
make dramatic sound effects. These are at
the side of the stage which you can just
about see.
The drums shown here are a bass drum and
a tam-tam (a type of gong).
+ You can visit our YouTube page to find videos that contain some of the sounds in
the play. Just look for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe:
www.youtube.com/ShermanCymru
Play notes
What happens in the play
The play lasts approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, including a 20 minute break
(called an interval).
The first half lasts approximately 50 minutes.
Then there is a 20 minute break (interval).
The second half last approximately 35 minutes.
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is based on a book by C.S. Lewis, and it
tells the story of four children called Lucy, Peter, Susan and Edmund, who are sent
away from London during the war.
! Spoiler alert: The following play notes explain what happens in the play.
ACT ONE (the first half of the play)
 They go to stay with a Professor in his house in the countryside. There is a
housekeeper called Mrs Macready.
 When they explore the house, Lucy discovers a magical wardrobe in the
house that transports her to a far-away land called Narnia, where she first
meets Mr Tumnus. He tells her about the evil White Witch who has cast a
spell over Narnia to make it always winter.
 When she returns from Narnia, her brothers and sister don’t believe her when
she tells them about what’s inside the wardrobe.
 Later the siblings play Hide and Seek. Edmund follows Lucy back into the
wardrobe but instead of finding her, he finds himself in Narnia. He meets the
White Witch, who gives him some enchanted Turkish Delight and convinces
him to bring the rest of his siblings to her.
 Peter and Susan eventually find out that Narnia is real. They all enter the
wardrobe, and meet Mr and Mrs Beaver. Edmund disappears and they realise
that he is on the White Witch’s side.
 The Beavers tell the children about Aslan, a great and powerful lion who is the
King of Narnia. They know that if they can find him, he will save Narnia from
the White Witch. On their journey, they are met by Father Christmas who
gives them some gifts and serves them some tea.
+ This is the end of Act One, and now there is a short break (interval) where
you can get a drink and go to the toilet.
ACT TWO (the second half of the play)
 We return to see Edmund travelling with the White Witch. They discover that
Father Christmas has been to Narnia and has given gifts to the creatures. The
Witch is very unhappy. She realises that winter is coming to an end.
 Up ahead is Lucy, Peter, Susan and the Beavers. They finally see Aslan, but
are interrupted by a bad wolf called Maugrim. Peter has to fight Maugrim.
! Sensory alert – dramatic / violent scene
Even though it looks very realistic, the fight is pretend. The actors have
carefully planned and practiced so that it is safe and no one gets hurt.
 We return to the scene in the woods, where the White Witch, her driver and
Edmund are. The Witch realises that Edmund may lead Aslan back to her and
decides it is time to kill him. Just in time, the children, the Beavers and Aslan
find them.
 The Witch tries to make a deal with Aslan, and she meets him at the Stone
Table in the night.
! Sensory alert – dramatic / violent scene
The White Witch kills Aslan. The children have followed him and see this,
which upsets them a lot.
 As the sun rises and they hear a great cracking noise, and it turns out that
Aslan has come back to life!
! Sensory alert – dramatic / violent scene
After Aslan comes back to life, he says he’s about to roar – this is a loud roar!
 Aslan takes the children to the White Witch’s palace, where they bring the
stone creatures back to life.
 Then we see the battle scene, where Peter and Edmund have to fight against
the White Witch and her army. After a short time, Aslan, Lucy and Susan
arrive to help.
 Edmund is hurt by the White Witch, but together they eventually defeat her
and her army. Aslan crowns them all as Kings and Queens of Narnia, and then
goes away.
! Sensory alert – Aslan kills the White Witch.
 They rule Narnia for a long time, but eventually go back through the wardrobe
and back into the Professor’s house. They realise they’ve been on a great
adventure.