This isn’t a sponsored post.
BrumHour was invited to see The Snow Queen by The Old Rep.
For Interval Theatre on Brum Radio, Dave Massey spoke to Snow Queen producer Sam George and and actor Charlie Keable. Listen back here:
By Julie Wallis
The Snow Queen at The Old Rep
Directed by Alec Fellows-Bennett
The Snow Queen is at The Old Rep until 30th December and this is an updated version of the classic tale of the hard-hearted Snow Queen, by Hans Christian Andersen, who fears change and difference. Luckily for the audience, the young heroes Gerda and Kai come to the rescue and show that best friends forever will always be best friends.
The story centres around Gerda (Christina Harris) and her best friend Kai (Tom Sturgess), they pinky promise to always be best friends but when Gerda’s sister Karen (Alexandra Daszewski) gets to her 13th birthday she changes and becomes bitter, rude and nasty.
Gerda and Kai set off on an adventure which will introduce them to the Robber Queen (Charlie Keable) the crow, and the helpful troll Gamle (also played by Charlie Keable) Kai is frozen in time by the Snow Queen just moments before his 13th birthday and when he is rescued by Gerda he changes into the same rude and nasty teen that Gerda’s sister had become, but is their forever best friends friendship enough to reunite Gerda and Kai or will the Snow Queen (Letitia Hector) and her evil minions win?
This family-friendly performance has some mild threats and pantomime style violence but also lots of laughs, I particularly loved the Robber Queen who made me laugh out loud with her antics.
The sets are simple but effective, Gerda’s bedroom is a bed wheeled onto the stage as Karen runs in and out of Gerda’s room, super excited to be celebrating her birthday. Even this opening scene raises a few laughs. The Snow Queen’s castle is an ice throne but it’s all very clear even for the very youngest audience members where we are throughout the performance. With atmospheric lighting and some theatrical fog, you will be transported deep into the forest or the Snow Queen’s Icy lair.
I’m not sure this can be called a musical, but there are a few songs thrown in for good measure and they are instantly likeable and catchy tunes. Some are rousing enough to get the audience clapping along in time too. As expected the singers are all blessed with great voices. This is a very well thought out production filled with some great young actors, they may be lacking in years but certainly not lacking in talent. What they lack in years they more than makeup with enthusiasm and energy and that can be appreciated during the dance routines.
As to be expected, the Snow Queen wears a fabulously illuminated outfit, bedazzled with tiny lights and her pantomime villain act hits just the right level of scary, not frightening enough to scare small children out of the auditorium but mean enough that everyone understands she is the baddie.
This makes The Snow Queen a perfect choice for a first theatre experience, although it’s not as interactive as a traditional pantomime, it’s still very relaxed with chattering young audience members. There will be a relaxed and BSL performance on 14th December.
Book tickets to The Snow Queen at The Old Rep > HERE << (opens in a new tab)">>> HERE <<.
This isn’t a sponsored post.
