Reviews

When I heard we were going to see The Snow Queen (writes 10 year old Erica Belton) I wasn't sure what to expect as I didn't know the story. My first impressions of the play was that is was serious and fantastic.

I loved it and although it was very dark in places it was not a scary story. I thought the two main characters Gerda and Kay were fun while the Snow Queen was serious and dark.

At the beginning a demon owns an evil and magic mirror which is accidentally shattered into a million pieces which fly around the world.  Anyone who is pierced by one has their heart turned to ice.  Kay gets a piece in his eye and heart and is taken hostage by the Snow Queen.  Gerda is so upset and vows to rescue him and so begins her strange and wonderful journey.

When she meets the Snow Queen an amazing shower of snow falls on the ground and it is the most thrilling and magical scene of all.

Gerda finally meets her friend Kay and she cannot believe he is so different and cold towards her.  She is so upset that she cries and her tears fall into his eyes.  Kay then becomes his real self and the pair are happy again. 

I loved this play as it was so different and magical. I would recommend it to children of all ages - including adults.

(8 year old Tom Belton writes..) I really liked this show - it was really cool and fun.  I especially liked the weird characters that Gerda met on her journey to rescue her special friend Kay.  The three little people were funny and sparky.  I think most children would love this strange and magical fairytale.

(Dad Steve Belton writes..) This was an extraordinary production of the Snow Queen and the presentation of it was very different and thought-provoking.  It worked on many different levels. It appeals to children as it is visually stimulating and it appeals to adults as the stagecraft was brilliant. 

The dramatic presentation can only come form highly intuitive and engaging acting. Many of the characters portrayed were exciting and energetic and it all flowed together - effortlessly moving from one character to the next in an amazing mix of strange and amusing happenings.  The characters communicated in two languages and this gave and avant garde feel to this fairy tale.

It was stimulating in many different ways without resorting to special effects or overacting - 65 minutes of storytelling at its best  with acrobatics and incredible caricatures.   I would highly recommend it.