A MAGICAL START TO THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

By Trisha Cusack ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

The Snowman makes its return to stage for its 28th year, bringing with it all of the joy and childlike wonder that makes it such a classic.

We begin our Saturday afternoon at the busy Peacock Theatre, surrounded by families of all ages. Despite the cold weather outside and crowded theatre bar, there were plenty of excited faces as the show began.

We are introduced to a wintery scene with a young boy, played on rotation by William Alsina, Teddy Holton-Frances & Henry Treharne, waking up and getting ready to play in the snow. This stage adaptation has no dialogue, with the performers acting out the scenes through narrative movement. It’s easy to follow and the accompanying live music adds to the atmosphere, emphasising the comedic moments even more.

After building an impressive looking snowman, The Boy goes to bed – but not for long. In classic Christmas magic fashion, the titular Snowman comes to life and thus begins the exciting adventure we all came for. Throughout the first act, we witness a series of short dance scenes as The Snowman and The Boy explore the different rooms of The Boy’s house. From a run in with the cat, to a very silly dance scene with some life sized fruit, the choreography is very well done. It captures the whimsy of it all with considered performances choreographed by Robert North.

The first act ends with the most famous part of The Snowman, the nostalgic ‘Walking in the Air’ flight scene. Eliciting gasps of wonder and straight out ‘Wows’ from the young audience, it really was a magical moment.

The second act is even more fun filled as we enter the Land of the Snowmen. A cast of snowmen, Santa Claus, penguins, and a battle with Jack Frost brings much laughter to the theatre. The playfulness between the characters and the dazzlingly simple choreography makes this a very accessible and fabulous introduction to children to the joys of theatre.

Eventually, The Boy and The Snowman return home and the adventure comes to an end. For a wordless performance, the young actor captures the emotion of learning The Snowman has melted rather well.

Running at 1 hour and 50 minutes, including an interval, it was a treat throughout. Perhaps a little bit long for some of the younger audience members but don’t let that put you off. The pacing of the short scenes keeps the audience’s attention. Also, for full transparency, I am a child-free woman in my late 20s, so I didn’t have to experience navigating buggies, treats, and toilet breaks. However, generally speaking it seemed like most families got on well.

Overall, The Snowman truly is a delightful day out, for audiences young and old. If you are very averse to being around children who haven’t fully learned theatre etiquette yet, an evening performance may be better suited. But all in all, it is an utterly charming experience that will leave you with a smile on your face.

The Snowman is currently running at Peacock Theatre until Sunday 4 January.

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Photo Credit: Herbie Knott