THE SNOW QUEEN: A WOODLAND ADVENTURE
The Albany
★★★★
“a glowing winter treat for the very young and for anyone still young at heart”
What if the joyful heart of winter turned cold and bleak? In The Snow Queen: A Woodland Adventure, a charming new family production from Icon Theatre and the Albany, Hans Christian Andersen’s winter tale is reimagined as an intimate, interactive woodland quest. Directed and written by Nancy Hirst, the show follows the mice Gerda‘s adventure through a frost-bound forest to break the Snow Queen’s spell—a journey that becomes as much about collective warmth as it is about seasonal magic.
The production’s welcoming, immersive atmosphere begins the moment families enter performers greet children in character, colourful seating draws them forward, and the pre-show becomes part of the world. Participation flows naturally from there—children help find missing socks, play musical statues, vote in a ceremonious “best cheese” contest, and later join hands (or elbows) to steady the “magic boat” crossing an icy river. Each moment reinforces the story’s themes of cooperation and shared courage.
Eve Pereira’s Gerda is the emotional anchor of the piece—sweet, earnest, and instantly inviting. She is warmly supported by Freya Stephenson as the caring Mother Mouse and Henry Regan as the spirited Kai. The ensemble handles multiple roles with ease, though it is the chemistry between Pereira and the young audience that truly fuels the narrative.
Visually, the show is delicately enchanting. Laura McEwen’s set and costumes evoke Bluebell Wood with crisp simplicity, gradually overtaken by the Snow Queen’s chill. Callum Macdonald’s lighting deepens this transformation, shifting from warm woodland glow to glittering frost with a sense of genuine magic. These transitions capture the emotional stakes of the story—the tug between warmth and cold, belonging and isolation.
Eamonn O’Dwyer’s music provides the production’s beating heart. The melodies are simple, memorable and accessible to young voices. When the audience joins the cast in singing “Shine, Star, Shine,” lighting a star overhead through collective song, the effect is quietly moving and beautifully pitched to families.
While not all elements land with the same gentleness. A few sharper words used in moments of conflict (“mean,” “loser”) feel slightly misaligned with the show’s otherwise tender tone and its intended age bracket, sadly pulling some parents out of the spell. Similarly, the Snow Queen’s monologue leans toward the didactic where physical storytelling might better captivate young viewers. A tighter, more physically expressive opening could also help audiences settle into the world more swiftly.
Even so, The Snow Queen: A Woodland Adventure succeeds as a visually engaging and musically uplifting piece of participatory theatre. Its greatest strength lies in recognising that children respond most deeply when invited to co-create the magic rather than merely watch it. The finale—snow drifting down as cast and audience unite in song—beautifully encapsulates this spirit. With its empathetic performances, thoughtful interactivity and a warm celebration of friendship, it is a glowing winter treat for the very young and for anyone still young at heart.
THE SNOW QUEEN: A WOODLAND ADVENTURE
The Albany
Reviewed on 6th December 2025
by Portia Yuran Li
Photography by Roswitha Chesher
