New Marianne Elliott company to produce The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Elliott Harper Productions has announced they will team up with West Yorkshire Playhouse for this year's Christmas production at the theatre.

Sally Cookson (Peter Pan, Jane Eyre, National) will direct an adaptation of CS Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, which will be designed by Rae Smith (War Horse).

The co-production between the theatre and newly-formed production company (which is run by Marianne Elliott and Chris Harper) will be the first staged in the round at the theatre.

Cookson said: "I can’t wait to bring this timeless story to life in a new version full of magic, mischief and mayhem. Expect a wonderland of imagination and a story to warm the cockles of the iciest of hearts.

Lewis' novel is about is about four siblings who find a portal to the magical world of Narnia through the back of a wardrobe.

Elliott said: "I’m so pleased that Sally Cookson has joined our company and will be using her extraordinary talents to bring CS Lewis’ classic story to life at West Yorkshire Playhouse."

The piece will have music by Benji Bower, sound design from Ian Dickinson and lighting by Bruno Poet. Adam Peck will be the writer in the room, and the movement director is Dan Canhan.

Casting is yet to be announced.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe will run at the West Yorkshire Playhouse from 29 November to 21 January 2018.