MANILA, Philippines – Research shows that parents who take time to tell stories to their children help develop their child’s communication and imaginative and creative skills. In most cases, reading aloud takes the front seat when it comes to storytelling. But a more effective way to meet this end is to take your children to a theater show. It is through theater where stories come alive and impacts a child in ways reading can’t.
But not all stories are created equal. In the world of literature, one of the classic children’s stories that fuse action, adventure, heroism and strong Christian values is set in the land called Narnia.
Selling over 100 million copies and translated into over 40 languages, C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia has stood the test of time and having been originally written for children, and has been a favorite of parents worldwide. The seven books in the series have been read as bedtime stories to children, taken as university electives, or studied by those who just want to delve deeper into its pages because of the countless layers Lewis left for his readers to discover.
This month, Trumpets once again adapts one of The Chronicles’ books for the stage in its production of The Horse and His Boy. It’s an entertaining, epic ride into the lands surrounding Narnian borders with the brilliance of its source material brought to life by everyone involved in the production. The journey of self-discovery holds countless lessons for both child and parent; lessons in the foolishness of arrogance, the knowledge found in humility, and many other things to ponder. A line from the song in Trumpets’ production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe sums it up best — “There are things to discover if you only would look.”
C.S. Lewis’ faith also shines through the pages of each book in The Chronicles of Narnia and is most evident in the Christ-figure portrayed by The Great Lion, Aslan. While Christian themes are present, Lewis did not intend to write a Christian novel for children, but it had somehow worked its way into his writing; many believing that it was his testimony. The same can be said for The Horse and His Boy, but the audience must first take the journey with Shasta and his companions to discover it.
If you haven’t told your kids a story recently, take them to Trumpet’s The Horse and His Boy. The journey begins today at the Meralco Theater.
Tickets are available on ticketworld.com.ph or by calling the Trumpets Office at (02) 901-4364. Follow the epic ride on social media by heading to their Facebook page: The Horse and His Boy by Trumpets or witness the journey by using the hashtag: #epicride.