Vidar Hjardeng MBE - The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Audio Described Theatre Review

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next in his regular Connect Radio audio described theatre reviews.

This week, Vidar stepped through the wardrobe into Narnia with the audio described performance of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham on Saturday 12 March 2022 with description by professional describer Anne Hornsby from MindsEye. 

In The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe we follow Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they wave goodbye to wartime Britain, step through the wardrobe into the magical kingdom of Narnia and say hello to a talking Faun, an unforgettable Lion and the coldest, cruellest White Witch. 

This is the UK and Ireland tour of the critically acclaimed Leeds PlayHouse production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, based on the original production by Sally Cookson which was first staged at the Bridge Theatre in London.

Vidar began by recalling reading C.S Lewis’ Narnia books as a child at school, saying how much this production was very true to the original story with some dramatic staging and the characters being exactly as Vidar expected them to be.

Vidar commented on the good use of music throughout this very powerful and sometimes dark production, with quite a lot to take on board for younger children as there was very much a family orientated audience at the Alexandra Theatre.

Vidar stated that Anne Hornsby did a great job with her description including the pre-show introductory notes which were also available from the Alexandra Theatre’s website to listen to well in advance of the performance.  

Sadly there was no touch tour due to Covid restrictions, although Vidar felt that a touch tour would have been beneficial to him for a better  understanding of the mechanics of this magical production.

Vidar closed by saying The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is a great production for all the family to enjoy. 

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe continues on tour around the UK until early May and for more details do visit the production’s website including information about any further audio described performances - 

https://www.lionwitchonstage.com


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