They’ve been alive in the imaginations of millions of people for years, but Aslan the lion, Mr Tumnus and the White Witch will take a step closer to reality this summer. An all-Australian production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will hit the stage in Sydney this December, introducing a new generation to CS Lewis’s classic children’s tale.

One of the best known pieces of fantasy ever written, the ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ are also recognised as a great work of Christian allegory, introducing readers to many central biblical themes throughout the seven-book series.

The mythical world of Narnia will be brought to life with a combination of live actors and over 40 puppets, including well-known stage actress Amanda Muggleton as the White Witch, plus a huge animatronic Aslan.

Producer Malcolm Cooke said it was ‘extremely important’ that the production faithfully re-created CS Lewis’ original work. “The people that want to come and see the show are often those who have grown up reading and loving CS Lewis, so you’re really shooting yourself in the foot if you’re not true to the book,” he said.

“And it’s a cracking good story. You don’t need to change anything.”

Mr Cooke said the show is aimed at the whole family, primarily adults. “If we entertain the adults, they’ll bring the kids along.”

With Sydney as the last stop in a national tour, Mr Cooke says Sydneysiders can expect the best performance yet. “We have continued to improve and refine the show as we’ve gone,” he said.