Off stage, it’s hard to imagine that Katy Stephens could have grown adults cowering in their seats. She’s warm, friendly and just a thoroughly nice person.
But audiences at the Lowry attending The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe have experienced a darker side as she portrays the White Witch who has reduced the land of Narnia to a cold and desolate place. Opposition is not tolerated and the arrival of the Pevensey children into her world threatens her harsh regime.
“It’s weird but it’s actually nice to be hated,” she laughed. “It’s quite exciting being on stage and to be despised by so many people. Although I do know out there I do have some secret fans. There’s no doubt some of the more naughty boys and girls in the audience are on my side.”
Katy, who has worked extensively with the Royal Shakespeare Company, said: “It’s a real honour to play the White Witch, she’s such an iconic role.”
The acclaimed adaptation of the C S Lewis novel has been enchanting audiences over the festive period and has another 10 days to run. With Katy’s White Witch representing evil, four evacuees bring hope to Narnia and reawaken Aslan the Lion for a final showdown.
With actor musicians playing the inhabitants of Narnia, the show both sounds and looks spectacular. Katy’s White Witch is resplendent in a massive fur coat.
“It looks great,” said Katy, “but it also weighs around four and a half stone; it’s really heavy. But luckily because I am the queen I don’t have to do much walking myself.
Read the review: 'Storytelling on stage at its finest'
“We have this incredible contraption which we call the gib – I suppose it looks a bit like a Second World War fire engine - and I get carted around on that quite a lot so the amount of actual walking I have to do while wearing the cloak is quite minimal.
“I’m really lucky that the costume department look after me. At one point I take the coat off one side of the stage and the next time I wear it I come on from the other side of the stage.
“My poor dresser has to carry it around backstage in a basket.”
Director Michael Fentiman revealed that there were originally two coats made for the production - one for stage and one to exhibit while the show is on tour across the UK.
“The display coat got stolen in Edinburgh,” he said. “A homeless person broke into the theatre and spent the night there and walked off with the coat the next morning.”
Katy added: “He was asked to bring it back but said he didn’t know where it was but that he would bring another coat back. So somewhere around Edinburgh you might spot someone wearing a very heavy white fur coat.”
It’s not just the coat that audiences should watch out for.
Katy revealed a wardrobe secret to look out for.
“I don’t know how many of the audience notice it but I actually have three different crowns to wear during the production,” she said.
“With the return of Aslan and spring my crown melts. I start off with a really impressive on that’s about 18 inches then by the end I’ve just got these stumpy little icicles on my head. It’s really clever. “
Michael Fentiman and Katy have had a long working relationship mainly through the RSC where they first worked together some 16 years ago.
“I’m a sucker for punishment,” she laughed. “I think we first worked together when Michael was an assistant to Michael Boyd on As You Like It.
“He used to wear these jogging bottoms all the time with pockets full of change and every time he sat down everything used to fall out and all these coins went all over the floor so we nicknamed him Jackpot.”
Although her portrayal of the White Witch is a real tour de force, Katy’s favourite part in the show is when she’s playing a totally different character.
“For me, my favourite moment is when the four children are being crowned,” she said. “There is talk about how Narnia is rejuvenated, the rivers have started to run again, spring is back and everything is starting to grow; it’s so hopeful - that’s the most beautiful moment in the whole play.
“I’m just dressed as a mole helping to crown the children but I think if I was in the audience I would leave after that moment absolutely buzzing.”
The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe is at the Lowry, Salford, until Sunday, January 11. Details from www.thelowry.com
Share