EMMA Shaw is normally quite shy, so is relishing the chance to let out all her emotions and become a villain in the Wangaratta Players Youth Group (Youthies) production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

“The White Witch (also known as the Queen of Narnia) is extremely evil and rules Narnia with an iron fist and no mercy,” Emma explained.

“She loves to scare her prey and is used to getting her way; if you mess with her, she will get her revenge and everyone is scared of her except Aslan.

“The Witch doesn’t care for many people, although Fenris Ulf has always been a loyal follower and friend to her and she wants him to be next in line for the throne if anything should happen to her.

“Her way of caring or showing affection is quite strange though – she is definitely not the lovey-dovey type.

“I have a connection with the Witch in that I am her actor, and she is my character and we have a good understanding; but she is not me and I am not her for the most part.”

Emma is in her second year of Youthies and said she loves learning from others, and making amazing friends.

“Youthies is such a safe place to talk about your feelings and have people relate, and help you through hard times,” she said.

“If I’m having a hard week, Youthies always make me feel better, and we are always looking for new friends to join us.

“We learn so much that helps us not just with acting, but with confidence, public speaking and so much more and we have such fun doing it – everyone is so supportive that it’s like we are a big family.

“It has helped me to grow so much and I don’t know where or who I would be without it.”

Based on the classic story by C. S. Lewis, this performance of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe has been dramatized by Joseph Robinette for a younger audience and runs for about 80 minutes.

This version faithfully recreates the magic and mystery of the great lion Aslan; his struggle with the White Witch, and the adventures of the four children who inadvertently wander from an old wardrobe into the exciting land of Narnia.

“I think the audience will really enjoy the fight scene in our production – there is so much blocking (movements) it looks so real,” Emma said.

“It is tense and the suspense is great and the way the actors move their bodies to really become the animal is amazing, like how Leo (Harwood, who plays Tumnus) walks on the tips of his toes.

“The other actors are believable too – Ava (James, playing Susan) and Owen (Guy, playing Peter) can easily fool you into thinking Lucy is their little sister and Edmund their brother.

“So come along through the wardrobe to Narnia, enter my kingdom and see it for yourself; you will smell the Turkish delight all the way,” Emma laughed.

Tickets have sold out for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe which will be held during the school holidays.