CS Lewis’s ‘The Magician’s Nephew’ staged in East Belfast, near author’s childhood home

The genesis of the Narnia universe occurred in CS Lewis’s imagination during his formative years in east Belfast. Currently, a new theatrical production of The Magician’s Nephew by the Bright Umbrella Theatre Group is presenting his work to audiences, situated only a few miles from his boyhood residence. This theatrical adaptation, based on the sixth installment of the Chronicles of Narnia series, is being presented at The Sanctuary Theatre, located within the Mountpottinger Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church on Castlereagh Street. Patsy Montgomery-Hughes, who serves as the joint artistic director at Bright Umbrella Theatre, stated that CS Lewis’s literary creations are “ingrained in east Belfast”. She added, “It’s important to teach the next generation of children that the stories come from here.” She disclosed an initial apprehension regarding the staging of a CS Lewis production in east Belfast, citing both his ties to the locality and the high esteem for his writings. Following extensive engagement with local residents prior to commencing the production, she expressed a belief that the considerable effort had yielded positive results. “Local audiences have received it very well,” she commented. Furthermore, the performance venue itself holds historical significance in east Belfast, recognized as one of the oldest structures in that district of the city. Its origins trace back to 1875, with subsequent extensions completed in 1899 and 1906, and it continues to serve a congregational community. Bernadette McKeating, portraying the character of Polly, shared that she has been an admirer of CS Lewis since her childhood and underscored the importance of ensuring his work is accessible to local audiences. She remarked, “Theatre is entertainment and provides them with some magic and escapism particularly at this time of year.” Dylan Breen, cast in the part of Digory, conveyed to BBC News NI that he was “buzzing” to participate and highlighted the significance of a community theatre presence in a venue such as the church for the local area. This theatrical production complements the existing physical tributes to the Narnia author, who passed away in 1963, located throughout east Belfast. A short distance from the church, CS Lewis Square, inaugurated in 2016, features seven permanent sculptural installations depicting characters from the inaugural Narnia novel, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. While CS Lewis was born in Belfast, his literary creations have achieved global reach, and a cinematic adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew is currently in development, with Greta Gerwig, director of the successful film Barbie, slated to direct. When asked for any counsel from east Belfast, Ms Montgomery-Hughes offered, “Keep to the basis of the original storytelling – the magic is in the reality.” The Magician’s Nephew is scheduled to run at Sanctuary Theatre through 4 January. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.