West End hit show set to roar into Bay

Get ready as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe roars into the Princess Theatre, Torquay, next month (April).

The enchanting show, based on the famous novel by C.S. Lewis, has already enjoyed success in London’s West End and is now on the road.

Ben Smith, who was brought up in Devon, is the show’s Company Manager of the magical family family-friendly production.

He’s enjoying the tour and confirmed they will take a holiday break before rolling into Torbay.

“We’ve had some great audiences, it’s selling brilliantly, the company is in high spirits and the show is in very good shape,” said Ben excitedly.

He said his role is based around looking after everybody’s welfare in the show.

“If someone needs physio or mental well-being support, they come to me,” he said.

“I’m basically the person who manages the personal well-being on this tour.

“Every day is different. I wake up in the morning and look at my phone,  look at messages, and take telephone calls to see what needs to be done. It’s very much a reactive role.”

The story was first published 75 years ago and is still going strong and follows Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they meet new friends, face dangerous foes and learn the lessons of courage, sacrifice, and the power of love in the world of Narnia.

“It’s rare to have a show that appeals to all ages and holds up well,” said Ben.

“People may have read the books 50 or 60 years ago, or some come who may not know the story at all. It’s an engaging production with all the puppetry and the magic.

“It takes you on a journey from the very beginning, and it’s no holds barred, as it progresses and doesn’t let you catch your breath until it’s finished.”

The show is a spectacle in every way: set, staging, astounding effects, puppetry and costumes, but because of this Ben says it can be challenging when moving to more compact stages like the Princess Theatre.

He was quick to say they work hard to overcome these challenges and want to ensure as many people as possible can see the show in all its glory.

“Only this week we have a rehearsal for smaller theatres,” said Ben.

“The set up is quite different, but it’s vital to maintain all the elements of the show despite the physical challenges we face. You have to work with the stage you’ve got,” he said confidently.

Ben, who was born in Plymouth, can’t wait to return to Devon with the production.

“I really enjoy going home,” he said.

“My younger brother is still in Plymouth so I do get a chance to go back regularly. When I go to Devon or even Cornwall venues, it’s always a pleasure to go back to the region.

“It’s a great place to grow up in and I enjoy going back, and it’s a lovely juxtaposition being in London and then touring as well. Going to that part of the world is always a real treat.

“I started attending Plymkids Theatre Company aged seven and my mum went to theatre school as a teenager, so it was in my background and knew I’d end up in theatre somehow. My youngest sibling Toby, who also did Plymkids is a professional actor, so theatre is very much part of our family.

“While at the theatre company I started in backstage roles and it really sparked an interest and here I am now.”

He went on to graduate from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2018 completing a Stage Management and Technical Theatre course.

Along the way his stage and production credits include Vulvarine, Unfortunate and  Austen. He seems to be at the top of his game, despite only being 27.

His proudest moment was working The Motive and The Cue, directed by Sam Mendes. The show is inspired by the making of Richard Burton and Sir John Gielgud’s landmark Broadway production of Hamlet in 1964. It gives a glimpse into the politics of a rehearsal room and the relationship between art and celebrity.

“I was part of this in the West End at the end of 2023 into Spring 2024, it was a purely an artistic piece of theatre for arts sake,” he said.

“Watching a play about a play being staged with some amazing performances from Johnny Flynn and Mark Gatiss in the lead roles was inspiring and a time to remember.

“Mark won the Olivier Award for Best Actor and working with Sam Mendes, it doesn’t get much better.

“I feel privileged where I am and so grateful my career accelerated after that. I feel very fortunate, but I’m always ready for my next challenge.”

See The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the Princess Theatre, Torquay, from April 1-5.