Review: Sherman Theatre’s The Snow Queen

Last night we headed to Sherman Theatre to see their Christmas production of The Snow Queen. This kind of event always marks Christmas, and we were really excited to attend.

Review: Sherman Theatre’s The Snow Queen

The Snow Queen follows the story of two children, Gerda and Kai. When Kai is swept away by the alluring voice of the Snow Queen, Gerda must face the snow and storms to find and rescue him. Along the way she meets several interesting characters (including a reindeer), and it comes to pass that her rescue mission is also a voyage to self-discovery…

When it comes to the handling of this story, I will admit that the first act didn’t grab me. I often reserve any opinion about a performance until I’ve seen it in its entirety, because I find the second half can make or break a production. The first half felt a bit flat, in terms of set and props, as well as the whole vibe upon the stage. The sparse stage didn’t make me feel like they were performing upon a landscape of any kind, even during scene changes. This left me feeling a bit underwhelmed and questioning how the rest of the production would unfold.

The second act drew me in, with more depth and range of music, props, stage and performances. My favourite part was the scene with the Robber Girl. Hanna Jarman’s performance really moved me, and having seen her before, it was fab to see her take on a new role. The second half seemed to flow more, and I noticed George and Molly were more interested during the second act.

I really loved the placement of the pianist in the corner of the stage, as well as the random musicians joining him during some of the songs. The vocals were all stunning, with Anni Dafydd (Gerda) and Ed Parry (Kai) really wowing the audience with their beautiful voices and harmonies.

I loved the concept of this performance, a double story played out with a sense of loss and love running throughout. I think it’s a clever take on the classic, with the modern day story offering comedic moments that the whole audience could relate too.

The Snow Queen has had a revamp, and although I wanted more from the stage, set and props, the performers delivered on all levels. At times it was magical and enchanting, and one things for sure, you’ll leave feeling a new sense of appreciation for what you do have, and isn’t that the key to Christmas spirit?

The Snow Queen runs from now until 31st December, so head on over to the Sherman Theatre website to book now!