Starcatchers present a trail featuring Narnia inspired characters

December 18, 2025 4:17 pm

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There was festive cheer last week in Wester Hailes as a series of Narnia-themed events took place.

The organisation Starcatchers worked in collaboration with community partners to present a magical Narnia Festive Trail aimed at local families with young children under five.

The immersive trail began at Wester Hailes Library and ended at WHALE Arts, and featured aerial performances, live music from Tinderbox Collective, Oi Musica and Big Noise Wester Hailes, plus the chance to meet beloved Narnia-inspired characters along the way.

After the experience, one Wester Hailes family said: “We had the best time thanks to the warm and inclusive welcome. It was magical. My son said “it was his best Christmas ever””

Sighthill Nursery also shared that “We had the best time! Thank you so much for the experience. It was honestly amazing and unforgettable. Please pass on our thanks to the team, so impressed. So much better than a panto! It was extremely inclusive for our pupils.”

The special festive experience was created especially for families in Wester Hailes, Broomhouse and Sighthill, and developed in partnership with Starcatchers’ Expecting Something group for babies and their carers, based at WHALE Arts.

Since November the group worked with lead artists Katy Wilson, Kerry Cleland and a range of visiting artists on playful, creative activities inspired by C.S. Lewis’, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The families’ ideas and creations were incorporated into the magical hour-long walkthrough performance.

Expecting Something is Starcatchers’ longest-running community programme, coming up to its 13th year. The group has become an invaluable space for play, community and relaxation for young families and their newest additions in the Wester Hailes area.  

Lead Artist, Kerry Cleland, worked hard to make this year’s celebration bigger and morecollaborative than ever, drawing in more partners and providing more opportunities for the whole community to take part. Throughout December, partners across Wester Hailes delivered a range of Narnia-inspired activities. Locals took part in a variety of different events including festive window-design workshops at Wester Hailes Library as part of Fair Saturday Scotland, Whale Arts Winter fayre, and a host of other activities delivered by The Health Agency, B Healthy Together, Prospect Community Housing, Holy Trinity Church, Community Wellbeing Collective and The Why Project.

Kerry said: “This year’s celebration has been our most collaborative yet, and we simply couldn’t have created it without the enthusiasm of local families and the support of partners across Wester Hailes. It’s been wonderful to see our Narnia celebrations grow year after year into something bigger and more magical for the whole community, inviting everyone, from birth to 100 years old, to get involved and be creative together.”

The funding came from Edinburgh City Council and Fair Saturday Scotland who supported the festive window design workshop. Fair Saturday Scotland also helped to provide 200 free creative window packs to families in Wester Hailes.

A spokesperson for Starcatchers said: “We’d also like to thank Wester Hailes Community Trust and All or Nothing Theatre whose contributions and support have been invaluable.”