The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition, based on the blockbuster film series and C.S. Lewis’ beloved fictional books, opens at the Powerhouse Museum on 12 May 2012. This state-of-the-art entertainment and educational experience offers visitors the opportunity to tour scenes from the famed literary world of Narnia. Through authentic costumes, props and set dressings from the magical Narnia films, visitors will enter a three-dimensional world that combines the wonders of science with aspects of fantasy.
Narnia scenes and characters will captivate visitors and take them on a journey of discovery. Can animals communicate with humans? Can we really manipulate the climate? How does our existence impact the Earth? These are but a few of the science-related questions raised in the exhibition that will challenge people to think about how they live today.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition is produced by Global Experience Specialists, Inc. (GES) in partnership with Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media. The exhibition is showing only at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney until 26 August 2012.
“The Narnia exhibition combines science with the wonders of myth, magic and adventure created by the films and timeless work of C.S. Lewis. It is our hope that the exhibition will be a springboard for visitors to continue their scientific enquiry beyond Narnia; perhaps to other areas of the Museum such as our Ecologic exhibition that explores such issues as sustainable living and climate change today,” said Dr Dawn Casey, Director, Powerhouse Museum.
“This exhibition is a truly entertaining experience for all ages,” said Eddie Newquist, EVP and Chief Creative Officer, GES. “From the scene displays and props from the Narnia films, to the scientific and educational aspects of the exhibition that stimulate the senses and the mind, guests will be transported into another world to experience Narnia like never before. We are thrilled to bring the exhibition to Australia for the first time.”
Once inside The Chronicles of Narnia exhibition, visitors will encounter several fun, hands-on elements including:
- A replica of the White Witch’s Throne where visitors can sit and feel the chill of the icy throne; a nearby display describes the impact of climate change on our planet and investigates whether our planet could be frozen for 100 years, like the world of Narnia.
- An interactive frozen waterfall, icy to the touch, with a display on the science behind why water freezes.
- A model of King Miraz’s Castle, which offers visitors the opportunity to build an arch and learn about the principles of its design and structure.
- An area highlighting the mythical creatures of Narnia, which allows visitors to create their own creatures featured in the films.
- A large-scale map of Narnia’s world highlights locations from the famous story.
- A metal armor suit and swords can be touched and lifted to experience their tremendous weight.
- A working catapult demonstrates how this medieval device can hurl an object great distances.
Visitors will also come face-to-face with characters and creatures from Narnia including Reepicheep, a Minotaur and Centaurs, as well as costumes of key characters including the White Witch and the Pevensie children. A recreation of C.S. Lewis’ study, where he wrote the Narnia adventures, is also shown in the exhibition.
“The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of classic children’s books that appears on the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge for primary school years five and six. As we celebrate the National Year of Reading in 2012, we hope that the exhibition will encourage children to read Lewis’ fantastic series or serve as a reward for those children who have read the books by bringing the world of Narnia to life for them!” said Dr Casey.
On View: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition
Dates: 12 May – 26 August 2012
Address: Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo, Sydney
Telephone: (02) 9217 0111 or infoline (02) 9217 0444
Website: www.powerhousemuseum.com
Hours: 10.00am to 5.00pm
Admission: Family $45, Adult $17, Child (4–15 yrs) $12, Student cardholder/pensioner/concession $14, Groups $12/person, Schools $12/person. Powerhouse members free. Book tickets at ticketek.com.au
Opening Party sessions: Friday, 11 May (evening only), Sat 12 May and Sun 13 May. Book tickets at ticketek.com.au