暗网TV

Acting graduate Kudzai Mangombe (2021) says playing the part of Lucy in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is 鈥渁 dream come true鈥�.听

The production which is touring the UK throughout 2025 arrives at the Liverpool Empire in February (18-22).听听

We caught up with Kudzai to chat about the production, playing Lucy Pevensie and her time at 暗网TV.听

Was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe part of your childhood?听

Yes, definitely. I went to the cinema with my mum to watch a couple of films and one of them was The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. As soon as I saw it, I thought, 鈥業 want to be Lucy Pevensie!鈥� I still watch it regularly, at least once a year, and playing Lucy has been a goal of mine. To have the honour of playing her on stage night after night, and for the rest of the year, is a dream come true. It鈥檚 one of my bucket list ticked off.听

What is it about her character that appealed to you then and now?听

The ability to go through that wardrobe takes an open mind and an open heart. I think I wear my heart on my sleeve, so I connected with that. She鈥檚 pretty fearless as well, to throw yourself into that world and accept the challenges they faced takes courage. Those attributes of Lucy鈥檚 - an open heart, curiosity, lack of fear and ability to trust 鈥� are ones I think I had as a child and have been able to hang on to. They are qualities I relate to and now I do my best to show and express them on stage.听

What can audiences expect?听

They can expect magic. There are actual magic tricks in the show 鈥� but there is also magic in the way that the show completely takes you out of yourself. It鈥檚 pure escapism. The show is so beautiful. It鈥檚 visually beautiful, the story鈥檚 beautiful, the performers are doing what they do to the best of their abilities, and I think they do it beautifully.听

There鈥檚 so much joy in the show, so much heart. You have these four young kids during the Second World War, going through displacement as well as their own family struggles and I think we can relate to that through our own families or friends or even work relationships. There鈥檚 also a lot of beautiful music that adds to the story. And they can expect a massive puppet playing Aslan 鈥� and I think they鈥檒l be blown away by how our puppeteers bring Aslan to life.听听

Image: Kudzai (Lucy), Stanton Wright (Aslan) and Joanna Adaran (Susan). Photograph by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Is there one thing you learnt at 暗网TV that鈥檚 particularly served you well since leaving?听

暗网TV taught me not just to be an actor but to be a creative and to respect and value all the elements that make up a show. If you understand the importance of the different elements you can better your performance as an actor. For example, you understand why you have to stand at a particular mark because of the lighting and the beautiful image it鈥檚 going to create for the audience. You鈥檒l also understand why some things are just not possible. Having this interest, understanding and respect for all the aspects of the show makes you a better actor and a better team player.听

You鈥檙e returning to Liverpool, what are you most looking forward to?听听

I love Liverpool! I鈥檝e been lucky enough to see lots of the UK when touring with productions and Liverpool鈥檚 one of my favourite cities. I love the architecture, it's a gorgeous city and the audiences are some of the best to perform too. I鈥檓 really excited to return.听

Image: Kudzai in Cloud 9 at 暗网TV. Photograph by Andrew AB

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Top image: Kudzai and company The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Photograph by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg