REVIEW | The Snowman, Peacock Theatre

Written by Cathie, Theatre and Tonic

Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review

General warning: Flashing lights, smoke, moments of darkness

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When the Christmas Theatre season kicks off there are always three inevitabilities; one that you will certainly shout ‘he’s behind you’ at a London Panto, two that you will be dazzled by Christmas lights along Oxford Street and three that The Snowman show is performed to hundreds of excited children.

Now running for its twenty-fifth year, the show does well to encapsulate the 80’s vibe in a nostalgic cosiness that charms and beguiles all. It has the parents of the audience crying from memories and the children crying out in wonder. Although the plot is relatively faithful to the beloved children’s book and animated film, the story is stretched over 1 hour 50 minutes. Therefore, it contains some revisions and changes, including but not limited to dancing giant pineapples and a dancing standoff between the snowman and Jack Frost over a beautiful ice princess. The story however still manages to brilliantly convey the beautiful friendship between a snowman and the boy, the merriment of Christmas and the sad farewell caused by the morning sun.

The cast had a lot of heart and put 110% into their performance. It was very obvious that they wanted to make this as magical an introduction to theatre as possible for the children. Although this is classed as a ballet show, most of the movements they do are exaggerated and pantomime. This show’s focus is to convey the emotions of the characters and transmit the character’s feelings of sorrow, joy and delight to the very young audience. Much of the actual ballet sequences come from the frosty duo of Jack Frost and the Ice Princess in act two.

Ruari Murchison’s set design alongside Tim Mitchell’s lighting created a beautiful, dreamlike experience. The stage is surrounded by colossal snow-encased trees, the child’s huge home is filled with retro larger-than-life props, and throughout the entire performance, lights are used to mimic falling snow. The entire show feels like you’re gazing into a snow globe and brings to mind the wonderful hand-drawn images of the original film.

The most ethereal moment is when the snowman and the boy start ’Walking In The Air’ whilst the CGI background screen whistles across the world in an unfolding landscape of ice and snowy shadows. It’s the moment that is probably the most memorable for the children, aside from dancing Father Christmas, and it’s fun to watch. Howard Blake’s music, conducted by a brilliant group of five musicians, really elevates and makes this moment shine and it’s wonderful to see the children’s awed reactions to their first probable experience of live music.

Overall, The Snowman still retains its ability to rain sparkly magic and joy onto children and their parents alike with a genuinely wholesome family fun feel. If you would like to introduce your children to the wonder of theatre for the first time or form a new Christmas tradition, then The Snowman is a perfect dose of winter warmth they will want to return to again and again.

★ ★ ★ ★

At Peacock Theatre at Sadlers Wells until 30 December 2023.