We sit down with Narnia's Mr Tumnus AKA our Alfie Richard's ahead of the show opening here in his home town of Leeds
Mr. Tumnus is a fictional character from The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe. He is a faun, a mythical creature with the upper body of a man and the lower body and legs of a goat. He is a warm-hearted and gentle figure, with a love for music and a fondness for playing his pipe so we sat down with Alfie Richards who is about to take on this fantastic faun and how he is feeling about starring in this much-loved show.
What excites you about playing everyone’s favourite faun Mr Tumnus?
It’s an exciting challenge to find my own interpretation of an iconic character like Tumnus.
What are the stand out characteristics of Mr Tumnus?
He’s kind, playful, vulnerable – yet he is fearful, he seeks comfort and nostalgia. He’s conflicted: balancing between courage and cowardice, right and wrong – but his bravery comes out on top.
What is your favourite Mr Tumnus line?
My favourite line is probably his response to Lucy’s comment, “See! You’re not a bad faun after all!”. Tumnus responds “Am I not? Well, that is a relief.”
You’re from Harrogate, so are you excited to be back in Yorkshire for the festive season?
I’m very excited! I’ve been coming to watch shows at Leeds Playhouse since I was very young, on school trips and family outings – even one of my early birthday presents from my parents was a ticket for A Christmas Carol here when I was a young boy living in Leeds. The drama department of my secondary school have apparently already booked tickets to come and see the show – very full circle. I’m grateful to be doing a play here at home in Yorkshire.
Why do you think The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe still resonates with so many people?
So many people of all ages have told me that this was their favourite book, series, film or tv show growing up. I do think it calls to something within all of us, a sort of childlike inquisitiveness that would still lead a lot of us to double check the back of our wardrobes. The world of Narnia is a comforting one.
However, it still remains a refreshingly confronting story – with tough moral choices, themes of sacrifice, internal conflict and the struggles of wartime oppression. It’s a lot to think about.
Are you excited about sharing this fantastic show with audiences?Absolutely, I think people of all ages will have a lot to take from it. In particular, I’m excited for people to see actor-musicianship used in a considered way that really lifts the piece. Playing music as an ensemble requires a lot of listening and expression – I think that lends itself to good storytelling.
Why should people come to see this show?
It’s a real hybrid of crafts and forms of storytelling; acting, musicianship, puppetry, movement, illusions, creative design and direction. Hopefully – it all makes for an enjoyable piece of theatre!
