City campus present The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the Malthouse 

In mid-September, Haileybury City’s production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe transported audiences at the Malthouse Theatre straight into the magical world of Narnia. Performing three shows, students took to the stage bringing to life a story that blends magic, adventure, and bravery. But before one can step through the wardrobe, that wardrobe must be built! 

Jane Marshall, Head of Drama at City campus talked us through the preparation that went into the show.
“My vision was to create the magic of Narnia and contrast it with the reality of the world the characters had just left.
I wanted the audience to see the personal development of the characters and children as they explored the new land and faced challenges”. 

Rehearsals started back in May, with auditions kicking off in Week 4 of Term 2. Over the months that followed, the cast and crew threw themselves into the work, steadily building the story, the set and their performances. 

Of course, a show like this couldn’t come together without a lot of work behind the scenes. “We had a creative crew who worked every week on props and some set pieces. Three students then worked backstage each night assisting the students and staff” Jane shared. 

Performing at the Malthouse Theatre was also an extremely exciting opportunity. The students were thrilled to be in such a professional space, and they treated it with the respect it deserved. “Seeing them perform on that stage, filled with energy and commitment, was an incredibly special experience” Jane said. 

When asked for a glimpse into moments where the students had outdone themselves, Jane was quick to affirm “all the time! The battle was probably the biggest moment though, as the entire cast all marched on, lined up then fought. We had been working on creating sword fighting routines and to see it all happening at one time was amazing”.  

The most challenging—and perhaps most impressive—scene was Aslan’s resurrection at the Stone Table. The table broke in half, with Aslan disappearing in front of the audience’s eyes, all thanks to some very clever puppetry and hidden cast members. It was a stunning piece of stagecraft. 

More than anything, this production was a chance for the students to grow—not just as performers, but as individuals.  

“As performers I hope they continue to use their imagination and work on developing their dramatic skills” said Jane. “As individuals, I hope they continue to build on their cross-age friendships they have made; they continue to apply kindness and determination to everything they tackle, and they remember to always be brave and support the people around them”.