KATHERINE MACALISTER talks to the White Witch herself as CS Lewis’s classic tale is brought to life by Creation Theatre

A classic Christmas show in a classic Oxford theatre by a classic Oxford author. No pressure then. But rising to the challenge like a phoenix from the ashes is Oxford’s favourite theatre company Creation, with their seasonal offering which looks set to give the pantomimes a fantastic run for their money.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is however an enormous undertaking, being such a vast and well-loved novel. But Creation has seized the lion by its mane and produced a really magical piece of theatre for us all to enjoy over Christmas, from the pages of CS Lewis’s most famous work.

And leading the cast is Gemma Morsley, who is enormously excited at the prospect of playing the White Witch, having never played a proper baddie before. So what does she make of the part? “The White Witch has to be as real as possible rather than a generic baddie because in the book she is very glamorous. “And from her point of view she knows four children have just arrived in her kingdom and wants to protect her crown. It’s just a question of how she relinquishes control. “So just to run about screeching wouldn’t be interesting for me or the audience. Not knowing what is going on in her head is as scary from my point of view.”

And yet as it’s a Christmas show she can’t be too terrifying? “You are going on a journey with these children and it’s all about good triumphing over evil and the lessons to be learned from that. So we all see what we want to see in these stories.”

Not that we should worry because The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is in safe hands with Creation, this being a very truthful adaption of the famous book. “Quite rightly so, it should be protected,” Gemma says. “But it means that each line change needs to be agreed because its rights are protected by CS Lewis’s family,” Gemma says. “And yet some things have to be changed because this is a different media and what works on a page doesn’t always work the same way on a stage.”

Either way, everything seems to be going very well in rehearsals. So what can we expect? “We have a few tricks up our sleeve, such as the ability to summon up huge armies, as well as lots of creative elements; music, movement, fights, sounds and costumes, so all quite exciting really.”

Gemma, 36, is also relishing the chance to play at the North Wall: “I have played to intimate audiences of 30 and to vast ones of 8,000 where you can’t see anyone's faces so it will be lovely to see who we are performing to this year. And although I’m a Creation virgin, I can’t wait for the Christmas season to start.”

So working over Christmas doesn’t worry her then? Gemma shrugs: “It’s part and parcel of the job and I just get on with it. “Besides, I’m sure I’ll have a lovely time with the rest of cast, because there is such a family ethos at Creation and although we have only known each other for a few weeks it already feels like a family.”

SEE IT The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will take place at the North Wall from December 6 to January 4. Creation’s Box Office on 01865 766266 or creationtheatre.co.uk