Looking for a fairytale that the whole family can enjoy this Christmas?

This new adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s magical adventure follows inseparable friends Kai and Gerda. When Gerda awakes on her sister Karen’s 13th birthday, she discovers that Karen has become mean and cold-spirited – a spell that The Snow Queen puts on all children when they reach the age of thirteen to ensure that everyone is as hateful as she is. After the heartless Snow Queen steals Kai to help rebuild her broken treasure, can Gerda rescue him in time before she plunges the world into an eternal winter? With the help of an unlikely band of companions, Gerda travels to the Kingdom of Ice to confront the Snow Queen and rescue her friend.

From the creative team behind last year’s Pinocchio and in partnership with the highly acclaimed Birmingham Ormiston Academy, The Snow Queen is an in-house production complete a modern story, some great computer effects, an original score and some catchy songs by Steve Allan Jones. Several of the cast play multiple roles and their own instruments and a large part of the cast, particularly in the ensemble, are made up of local talent.

The show comprises of a small but incredible principal cast. Letitia Hector absolutely owns the stage in the title role of The Snow Queen, lit up in hundreds of LED’s, riding a chopper motorbike and bewitching the audience with her fabulous vocal ability and presence. There is a fantastic chemistry between Gerda (Christina Harris) and Kai (Tom Sturgess), Harris is as charming as she is confident. Charlie Keable is hilarious with fantastic comic timing and multi-talented in the role of Hader – the Snow Queen’s chief supporter – and subsequent roles of Olaf the Woodcutter and Robber Queen, even playing the violin. Alexandra Dasewski has a wonderful voice in the role of Karen, Gerda’s sister.

In a nod to Hans Christian Andersen, Set and Costume Designer Amy Carroll’s costumes are a clever combination of traditional Danish dress and modern attire, and props and sets are simple but, combined with the lighting (designed by Will Monks), and use of mirrors from the ensemble cast, they are effectively used. The show also cleverly includes British Sign Language as part of its choreography.

With audience interaction, lots of laughs and the underlying message of what makes us different can only make us stronger, The Snow Queen is a show full of Christmas magic, plenty of fun and more than a pinch of seasonal joy from some of the best in the West Midlands!

The Snow Queen is on stage at The Old Rep until Monday 30th December 2019, with a BSL & Relaxed performance on Saturday 14 December, 1.30pm and a Parent & Toddler performance – Friday 20 December, 1.30pm. Book your tickets here!

Review by Penny Mason

Disclaimer – Penny was invited on my behalf to the Press Launch of The Snow Queen at The Old Rep and was given complimentary tickets, but was under no obligation to provide a positive review. She had a fabulous time!