THE roar of Aslan will be heard once again in Stratford this winter when the Royal Shakespeare Company's hit family show The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe returns to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

The stage version of CS Lewis's classic runs from November 21 to February 9 and the RSC has organised a series of special events to tie in with the production.

This includes the transformation of part of the Swan Theatre into a Narnian wonderland, where children of all ages can meet Father Christmas and have the opportunity to get a present.

In addition, there will be a number of other events, including the opportunity to join the actors before a performance and learn the songs they sing, listen to the actors reading their favourite extracts from the book and to find out more about how the story has been brought to life on stage.

RSC artistic director Adrian Noble said reaction to the show, which was first performed at Stratford in 1998 and was the RSC's first family show for more than 30 years, was "fantastic", attracting more than 40,000 first-time attenders to the RSC.

"Since then this classic story of good triumphing over evil has continued to win new audiences, delighting children young and old."

Tickets for the show are available from the box office on 0870 609 1110.

The RSC Christmas Experience, which gives people the chance to explore the Narnian wonderland at the Swan, runs from November 21 until January 3, 11.30am to 7pm and costs £1 for adults, free for children.

The Father Christmas Events are on November 22, 23, 29, 30 and December 6, 7, 13, 20, 21, 22. Tickets cost £2.50 from the Swan box office on the day of the performance.

There will be pre-performance presentations with members of the cast and production team on December 19 at 11.30am, December 21 at 12.30pm, January 9 at 11.30am and 12.30pm. These cost £2.50 and take place in the RST.

Post performance talks with members of the cast take place on December 20, January 17 and February 7. These are free to all ticket holders.

Tales from Narnia, in which actors from the show read extracts from the book take place in the RST circle bar from 6-6.30pm on December 20, January 17 and February 7 and cost £1.

Sing songs from the show with Mr and Mrs Beaver, Mr Tumnus and Lucy on Sunday, January 12 from 1pm to 2pm at the RST. Cost £2.50.