FORMER Eastenders actress Samantha Womack is swapping the Queen Vic for the role of Queen of Narnia in a spectacular stage production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - which comes to the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre next month.

Samantha, 48, will take to the stage in the smash-hit Leeds Playhouse production of the C.S. Lewis classic, which takes to the stage at the Aylesbury theatre from November 16 to 20.

TV and theatre star Samantha is completing the cast to play Narnia’s evil White Witch - a role she is “thrilled” to be taking on.

She said: “Having been a huge fan of C S Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for as long as I can remember, I am thrilled to be playing the The White Witch.

“The book has always been a magical read and having watched incredible actors interpret this role in the past, I am excited to see what she holds for me.

“This production is so beautifully conceived with thrilling sets and costumes and an amazingly talented cast and creative team.

“I can’t wait to seduce, plot and terrify Narnia into a permanent winter.”

Samantha Womack returns to the theatre after her recent success playing the lead role in the sold-out production of The Girl on the Train in the West End and on tour.

Sam’s past theatre roles include the Tony award-winning production of South Pacific in which she starred alongside Patrick Swayze, Guys and Dolls at London’s Piccadilly Theare (directed by Michael Grandage) and playing Emma in an award-winning production of Harold Pinter’s Betrayal (directed by Sir Peter Hall).

Her latest venture, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, has been described as a “theatrical miracle” by The Times.

Step through the wardrobe into the enchanted kingdom of Narnia. Join Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they wave goodbye to wartime Britain and embark on the most magical of adventures in a frozen, faraway land where they meet a faun, talking beavers, Aslan (the noble king of Narnia) and the coldest, most evil White Witch.

The show broke box office records at Leeds Playhouse in 2017 and played to packed houses and critical acclaim at the Bridge Theatre in London in 2019.

The tour begins on November 2 at the Curve in Leicester before travelling on to Aylesbury, Southampton, Sunderland, Salford, Cardiff, Aberdeen, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Canterbury, Plymouth, Glasgow, Birmingham, Dublin, Woking and finally completing the tour in Norwich on April 9, 2022.

Producer Chris Harper said: “We are so proud of the cast and creative team that we have assembled for our forthcoming tour of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and are delighted to welcome incredibly talented Samantha Womack as the White Witch.”

Tickets are on sale now for this magical theatrical adventure - go to www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury or call 0844 871 7615.