I saw Creation Theatre's production of The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe on its final night in a deservedly packed North Wall Theatre. It was an evening brimming with imagination, dragging us away from our present cares to an enchanted place.

The simple set was moved seamlessly around the stage by the actors to present doors, forests, a cafe and castle arches. The four Pevensie children clearly established their individual characters, and musically were a joy to listen to. Indeed the score throughout, which contained original songs, was generally enjoyable, particularly Mr Tumnus' lullaby and the duet between Susan and Lucy, and I would happily listen to it again at leisure. My only quibble was the song the witch sang at the Stone Table which did not seem dark or haunting enough for the depth of emotion required for that particular scene.

The non humans had to take a variety of roles - moving from reindeer to wolf to faun, or from Professor to beaver in challenging amounts of time. A slight disappointment was Aslan, whose vocal lines had a rich tone, but whose stance seemed awkward, and I wonder if in a theatre this up close his mask was used to its full effect.

Creation Theatre brought a moment of Christmas magic to a bleak January evening. If only I hadn't left buying my ticket so late I would happily return to Narnia (but perhaps I can always hope...)

When I could bear to take my own eyes off the stage, a glance at the entranced faces of my grandsons was all Creation Theatre Company could have wished for as publicity! If only they could have recorded them on camera!

A very entertaining piece of theatre. The acting leaves much to be desired (attempts to appear childlike are particularly painful), however, Raymond Walsh has an absolutely fantastic voice and Gemma Morsley plays the White Witch brilliantly. There's a moment where she calls Aslan a 'pussy cat' and pulls it off with such glee. Chloe Taylor and Michael Diana play beavers as largely comical, however they are brilliant for children and have a refrain that sums up the plot which is great fun to sing along to.

The staging is brilliant. I'm always disapointed that Creation's direction doesn't stand up to the standards set by the staging. While the set is creatively and beautifully designed and used, quirks of acting and blocking that should have been stamped out in rehersal are sadly evident and take away from the overall performance. For example, Aslan's lion mask is fantastic, the actor has not been directed on how to use the mask and his physicality does nothing to enhance the mask.

There are a lot of weaknesses in this performance. However, the moods and themes remind me of the genius of Lewis. He took these four war time children and gave them the chance to live out their desire to help, to fight. He took their games and turned them into something wonderful. And in doing it for those four, he did it for us all. This play reflects that. The mood of adventure, danger and duty, and the joyful conclusion of these moods, is played out perfectly.

There have been many adaptations of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe but Stephen Luke Walker's evocative and beautiful melodies bring fresh life to C.S. Lewis' popular children's classic. Right from the offset, Creation Theatre's production delightfully captures the audience's imagination. The opening montage of apprehensive evacuees juxtaposed with the grueling Second World War battle scene vividly sets the show in its historical context. The rest of the show seamlessly flits between this real world and the land of Narnia, taking the captivated audience with it.

The darker elements of the book are bravely and brilliantly brought out by director Charlotte Conquest. Mr Tumnus lulling Lucy to sleep is suitably disturbing and incredibly well executed. The statues in the White Witch's house are befittingly eerie and Gemma Morsley depicts a terrifying White Witch. Interspersed with the darker moments of the show are some well-received lighter elements such as Edmund's (Andy Owens) witty one-liners and the jovial characters of Mr and Mrs Beaver (Michael Diana, Chloe Taylor).

Children are integral to the story and the actors' portrayal of the Pevensie children are spectacular and utterly believable. The beauty of their performance is in the detail, from the way Lucy sips her tea with Mr Tumnus (Nathan Lubbock Smith) to the boys' bickering and Susan's (Ellie Kirk) consequent chastisement. The youngest Pevensie child takes centre-stage in the story – she is the first to encounter Narnia and shows the largest capacity for faith, not just in ‘unbelievable' ideas but also in people. Anna McGarahan faultlessly embodies the character of Lucy, demonstrating grace and forgiveness, first towards Mr Tumnus and then to her family, charmingly exemplified by being the first to embrace Edmund after his betrayal. Anna's stunning voice visibly moves the audience on numerous occasions, particularly during To Turn Time Back, her emotional duet with Susan on Aslan's deathbed.

The Christ-like figure of Aslan, who willingly lays down his life on the stone-table, is powerfully portrayed by Alistair Barron. He magnificently commandeers his lion puppet-head and his characterization and formidable voice bring Walker's remarkable songs to life.

The choreography is simple but effective, as is the minimalist use of furniture – the doors of the professor's house doubling up as trees works surprisingly well and the lamppost does not disappoint! While some of the puppets are, at times, distracting, their use in Mr Tummnus' house is magical and enchanting. Some of the costumes are reminiscent of a school production but they add to the child-like nature of the show and further enhance the comedic characters of Mr and Mrs Beaver.

The somewhat Brechtian elements of the play, such as the cast running through the audience and working as stage hands, enables the audience to reflect on the meaning and significance of the story. C.S Lewis himself would likely have approved – his re-retelling of the Christian story was not just to be enjoyed but also to point people to a deeper truth.

This spectacular production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is not your average Christmas production but with its outstanding music and gifted cast, its tickets should be on everyone's Christmas list this year.