How did we love The Snowman? Let me count the ways.
From the beautiful set and lighting, to the soaring score, to the heart-stopping moment when Snowman and James take to the air… it’s spine-tingling from start to finish.
‘Oh I loooove The Snowman!’ ‘We see it every year’.
I thought it was funny how people would go into raptures when I mentioned we were on our way to watch The Snowman for the first time.
Now I’m of those yammering fools.
We set off with high expectations but on the way to the 7pm performance, my 2-year-old was already nodding off in his pushchair. Could he last a 2 hour evening show?
I made Jed get up and walk for a bit to wake him up. As it turned out, he was totally engrossed throughout.
Raymond Brigg’s wordless tale works brilliantly on stage, with scenes leaping to 3D as vividly as colour in a black and white film.
It’s a simple story about a boy who builds a snowman that comes to life at the stroke of midnight.
On stage, the story’s padded out with a visit to a land peopled with other Snow folk, Santa Claus and a terror named Jack Frost.
Jed was a bit troubled by Frost but he cheered up when the ‘blue spiky one’ got head butted by a Snowman in a kilt.
The music, including falsetto classic Walking In the Air, works to cast a dreamy spell over the audience and there are some lovely dance sequences.
Call me a sap, but I got goosebumps and tears sprang to my eyes when Snowman and boy started flying.
I know the book well, have seen the cartoon film and had read spoilers in reviews so I knew what was coming. Yet, it’s breathtaking.
Jed’s young enough not to question magic, but Ezra was like ‘what’s going on, Mum?’ and then later, ‘That was unusual. I’ve never seen a boy who could fly before.’ He’s still in awe.
The Snowman has played every Christmas for a record-breaking 14 years at Sadler’s Wells and it’s no wonder. This is the kind of show that you will want to see again, take your kids and even your grandkids to see.
Book yourself a seat before it melts away for the season.
The Snowman is at Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre, Portugal St, Holborn, WC2 (Holborn tube) until Jan 8. Tickets £12-£32.
Best availability can be found on Wednesday 28 & Friday 30 Dec and Sat 7 Jan at 7pm, Friday 30 & Saturday 31 Dec and 3 & 7 Jan at 11am, and 4, 5, & 6 Jan at 2.30pm.
