'It could be the start of something': Surbiton High School student's dream role in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Starring in your home town’s highly-anticipated Christmas show, alongside friends from your own theatre group – lots of aspiring young actors can only dream of such an opportunity.

Certainly 17-year-old Thomy Lawson, who will play Susan in the Rose Theatre’s seasonal production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, knows what a chance this is.

“It is one of those experiences that is once in a lifetime,” says Thomy, a student at Surbiton High School.

“I’m absolutely terrified, but so excited.

“The whole cast is buzzing and we are counting down the days until the opening performance.”

Thomy is just one member of the Rose Youth theatre who will taking to the stage as one of the four Pevensie children.

Three groups of Rose Youth Theatre members will take on the leading roles of Edmund, Susan, Peter and Lucy, rotat- ing each night the show is performed.

Thomy is part of the “red” team, and will be performing with fellow youth theatre members Gwithian Evans (Edmund), Callum Cronin (Peter) and Katie Ashman (Lucy).

Thomy with Tomm Coles as Maugrim during rehearsals at Raven's Ait 

Thomy and her team were at last Thursday’s Narnia-inspired Christmas lights switch-on, where they performed the song Aslan’s On The Move from the Theresa Heskins-adapted show.

“It was the first time we’d performed anything publicly to do with the show,” says Thomy.

“It was rewarding to see that people were enjoying it and lots of people told us that they were going to be booking tickets."

The young actor is hoping the performance “could be the start of something”.

Thomy, second left, as Susan Pevensie with Gwithian Evans (Edmund), Gaia Mondadori (Lucy) and Callum Cronin (Peter)

She says: “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe has brought people from both inside and outside the Rose Youth Theatre together to create something special – we have all become a little family.

“It’s one of those books that everyone knows and loves and the script is pretty much identical to the speech in the book.

“It is literally like the book has been tipped up onto the stage. It’s magic. I think it will be beautiful to watch.”

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Rose Theatre, Kingston. Sunday, November 30 to Sunday, January 4; Various times. Tickets £10 - £27. Visit rosetheatrekingston.org or call 020 8174 0090.