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SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW

★★★★

Harold Pinter Theatre

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SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW

Harold Pinter Theatre

★★★★

“funny and innocent theatre”

If you are looking for the most delightful, happy Festive show for everyone to enjoy then look no further – Slava’s Snow Show has arrived at the Harold Pinter Theatre, in a welcome return to the West End.

Asissai the clown (Slava Polunin) shuffles out onto the stage dragging a long rope, wearing his now iconic baggy yellow onesie and huge fluffy red slippers, his drooping red plum nose, white mad hair and beard and sad hollow eyes – and then, with a pantomime sigh that shudders through his whole body, so begins this curious, nonsensical, funny theatrical experience like no other.

Slava is soon joined by a younger doubleganger and in tiny, mirrored movements the show takes flight. A green clad clown wearing a wide propeller shaped hat and traditional long clown shoes arrives and bows low and disappears. Then another and another green clad clown, until there are five identical green clad clowns in a row, apart from the fact that they are all very different heights – from small to very, very, tall!

They are all beautiful, yes, this quirky magnificent seven are all truly beautiful characters, and it is funny and innocent theatre.

Just go with Slava’s Snow Show, and let the performances gently wash over you, as scene by scene these mime clowns discover little and bigger balloons, bubble machines, human size snow globes, a sailboat, and even a giant cobweb that closes the first act.

The second act is not quite as seamless as the first but there is a wonderful scene with the younger doubleganger Slava, continually sliding off a chair as he tries to reach for a bottle of wine. Slava/Asissai, as they are one and the same, delivers his famous phone routine with his extraordinary high and low voices speaking in gobbledygook, slightly slows down the magic of his journey with his suitcase, his tender dancing with his coat whilst it hangs on a coat stand, to his train with smoking chimney hat, hurtling towards the magnificent snowstorm show finale.

With a recorded soundtrack of traditional Russian folk tunes, sound effects, soprano singing coming out of one of the green clowns, the theme tune of Chariots of Fire to Carmina Burana, the music fits the astounding action on stage throughout.

The cast, other than Slava Polunin’s Asissai, remain nameless, even in the programme they are not even mentioned. These anonymous artistes are truly top-class classical clowns – who are indeed, truly otherworldly creatures with no names.

I saw Slava’s Snow Show some 30 years ago when it was first created by Slava Polunin – and there are moments that I have never forgotten. Those scenes are still some of the most magical and theatrical coupe de théâtres to behold. I am not going to even try to describe those special effects in Slava’s Snow Show as it would take away some of the joy for a first timer to the show.

However, with so many of the audience filming during the finale and with today’s social media, I fear how much longer Slava’s Snow Show’s secrets will stay safe.

The audience leaves with a gentle other worldly smile on their face, having experienced clowning magic.

 



SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW

Harold Pinter Theatre

Reviewed on 18th December 2025

by Debbie Rich

Photography by Veronique Vial

 

 

 

 

 

 

Previously reviewed at this venue:

YOUR LIE IN APRIL | ★★★ | July 2024
HILLS OF CALIFORNIA | ★★★★★ | February 2024

SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW

SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW

SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW

 

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SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW

★★★★

Royal Festival Hall

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Slava's

Slava’s Snowshow

Royal Festival Hall

Reviewed – 18th December 2017

★★★★

“the audience is transported into a joyous dreamlike world of innocence”

 

With the run into Christmas in its last week, the thought of what entertainment to choose over the holiday break is a dilemma high on the minds of many. Amongst the various options are – should it be a pantomime visit, a trip to London to see a West End show or indeed some other kind of stage performance?

One that fits nicely into the latter category and currently being staged at the Royal Festival Hall, located at the heart of the Southbank Centre, is Slava’s Snowshow. This multi-award winning international sensation makes a welcome three week return to the venue.

Snowshow has enchanted and empowered the imagination of worldwide audiences since 1993 and has an original and magical feel about it for both children and adults. There are no words but the show has a mix of noises, vibrant colours, great music, laugh out loud moments and stunning stage effects.

It features a troupe of lovable clowns, each having their own character and the audience is transported into a joyous dreamlike world of innocence, magic, fun and amazement. It is simple yet complex, funny with sadness, calm but also adrenaline inducing.

This magical, mesmerising production has been brilliantly honed over the years and is a pure spectacle that reminds us that nobody is ever too old to enjoy clowns. Indeed we experience the true art of the clown – they are able to bring a smile with merely a shrug of the shoulder. A lump is brought to the throat when one interacts with an overcoat, a simple yet memorable moment.

It is very difficult to define the genre of this show but there are certainly nods to Charlie Chaplin. There are several unforgettable moments – the web that covers the audience, the wonderful breath-taking snow scene and the finale with the giant ‘slow motion’ balls – a joy to be part of.

The set is basic but the space is used well and the cast appears to enjoy the event as much as the audience. There is impressive use of lighting and also sound, though this may be a little overpowering for some young children. The soundtrack itself is catchy and the tunes remain in the mind long after leaving the show. It seemed to the observer that most people left the theatre with a smile on their face.

It could be described as a show that you will either fall in love with or leave thinking ‘what was that all about?’. Overall though, I found this be be a quite amazing evening that has certainly thawed my usual Christmas grumpiness and is an event I would encourage anyone to see. In fact I may just well pop back again before the run finishes in early January.

 

Reviewed by Steve Sparrow

Photography by V Vial

 

 

Slava’s Snowshow

is at the Royal Festival Hall until 4th January 2018

 

 

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