The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: LIPA grad heads back to Liverpool in ‘bucket list’ role

Acting graduate Kudzai Mangombe (2021) says playing the part of Lucy in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is “a dream come true”. 

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

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

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

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, ‘I want to be Lucy Pevensie!’ 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’s one of my bucket list ticked off. 

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

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’s pretty fearless as well, to throw yourself into that world and accept the challenges they faced takes courage. Those attributes of Lucy’s - an open heart, curiosity, lack of fear and ability to trust – 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. 

What can audiences expect? 

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

There’s 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’s also a lot of beautiful music that adds to the story. And they can expect a massive puppet playing Aslan – and I think they’ll be blown away by how our puppeteers bring Aslan to life.  

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

Is there one thing you learnt at LIPA that’s particularly served you well since leaving? 

LIPA 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’s going to create for the audience. You’ll 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. 

You’re returning to Liverpool, what are you most looking forward to?  

I love Liverpool! I’ve been lucky enough to see lots of the UK when touring with productions and Liverpool’s 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’m really excited to return. 

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

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