Icon has relaunched its touring department and is heading on the road with a theatrical treat for early years audiences.
Touring Information
★★★★ “A perfectly child-centred, frosty adventure with friendship at its warm heart.” Everything Theatre
★★★★ “A charming family production, full of warm flow.” Salterton Arts Review
★★★★ “Writer and director Hirst’s script has just the right balance of silliness and sentiment,
audience interaction and, importantly, movement breaks to ensure any restless
youngsters can remain engaged.” Fairypowered Productions
★★★★ “A glowing winter treat for the very young and for anyone still young at heart.” Spy in the Stalls
NOMINATION: Fringe Theatre Award for Young Audiences (Writing & Music)
NOMINATION: Everything Theatre Award (Ettie) – Best Theatre for Young Audiences
Synopsis
A Sparkling New Show for Ages 3–8 (and their Grown-Ups!)
Gerda, the littlest mouse, is hosting a cozy sleepover with her best friend Kai — and you’re invited. But something’s not quite right…
A sudden chill sweeps through the trees. The mysterious Snow Queen has cast an unhappiness spell over the forest, and suddenly Kai vanishes in a flurry of snow. Gerda must set off on a daring adventure to bring him home.
Can she break the spell and save Bluebell Wood? She’ll need courage, kindness… and your help!
Bursting with original songs you can sing along to, enchanting puppetry, lively dance and theatrical surprises, The Snow Queen is a heartwarming retelling of a classic tale filled with friendship, bravery and the magic of helping others.
From award-winning artistic director Nancy Hirst (co-creator of the cult children’s Saves Christmas theatre series), with enchanting design by Laura McEwen (Well Done Mummy Penguin, the Albany; The Princess and the Pea, Unicorn Theatre), and original music by Eamonn O’Dwyer (The Lion Inside, Southbank Centre), this glittering new production is the perfect treat for young theatre-goers and their families.
Please note: this visual and fairytale adaptation makes the piece suitable for winter seasons up until easter.
Creative Team
Writer and Director Nancy Hirst
Composer, Lyricist and Musical Director Eamonn O’Dwyer
Set and Costume Designer Laura McEwen
Movement Director Maria Ghoumrassi
Lighting Designer Callum Macdonald
Sound Designer Joseff Harris
Puppet Maker Eleanor Glover
Costume Maker Rosie Cannings
Key Performance Information
- Age guidance: 3 to 8.
- Running time: 50 mins, no interval.
- A three-hander.
- Interactive production, with games, song and dance.
- The characters are woodland creatures, played by performers.
- An updated festive version of the Hans Christian Anderson classic story.
Marketing Assets
- Production shots.
- Original layered graphic artwork.
- Up to 750 A5 colour leaflets and 30 A3 colour posters. (There is a small additional cost for overprinting).
For Programmers (Upon Request)
- Full-length film of performance;
- Script.
Technical Information
- Venue configuration: Played end-on, minimum performing area 8m x 8m. If your stage space is smaller we are exploring a studio adaption.
- Get in: 3 hours, with a pre-rig completed prior to get-in.
- Get out: 1 hour.
- Lighting: lighting plan supplied in advance, no specials. We will require the use of the venue lighting desk.
- Sound: Left and Right feed to auditorium, separate feed to Subs and SL & SR Monitors.
- Stage Management (SM): we tour with a SM on book who will be the main point of contact on the ground, as well as cueing the show. A Mac with QLAB will need to be plugged into the venue system.
- Technical staff: we will require 2 crew for the get in, 2 crew for the get out, and 1 technical staff for running the show.
- Dressing room: secure dressing room large enough for 3 performers.
- Facilities: Ironing board, hot and cold water, toilet facilities.
- Parking: for 1 long-wheeled-based Luton Van, standard 4m in length.
Icon Can Provide
- Dedicated support towards marketing campaigns.
- Dedicated support from Icon’s Production Manager.
- Pre-venue site visit, including box office and marketing meetings/briefings.
- Creative team and cast for PR opportunities, subject to availability.
Local/Schools Engagement:
- Workshops: a range of workshops for settings including nurseries, schools and community groups. We can tailor these to meet your requirements.
- Resource Pack: A Teacher Resource Pack exploring the themes in the show, including workshop ideas and lesson plans, using drama to engage with social health and emotional wellbeing (Primary) topics in the RSHE statutory guidance for KS1-2. Available free of charge.
Teacher Resource Pack KS1 & 2
About The Production by Nancy Hirst (Director)
“After a decade of creating shows for early years audiences for The Brook Theatre in Chatham, I am thrilled to have developed a new production in co-production with the Albany and to be taking it on the road.
For many young people, the productions that Icon Theatre have made have been their very first experience of live performance, and I take that responsibility seriously. With this show, my wish is for their first encounter with theatre to be filled with joy, imagination and belonging.
My ambition for The Snow Queen: A Woodland Adventure was to create a participatory experience with games, songs, puppetry, dance and lively interaction that places children and their grown-ups at the heart of the story. This reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale balances silliness and fun with themes of friendship, bravery and kindness.
The magical woodland worlds of snowy forests, starlit skies and icy landscapes bring the adventure to life, encouraging a love of the natural environment while filling children with a sense of wonder and possibility.
Rarely do girls lead such adventures, and in Gerda I wanted to create a fearless, curious and determined protagonist, ensuring young audiences see strength and potential reflected on stage. My hope is that this production not only delights and entertains but also inspires children to believe in their own bravery and creativity long after the performance ends”.
Nancy Hirst, Artistic Director, Icon Theatre
About Icon Theatre
Established in 2002, Icon Theatre is an award-winning theatre company and participatory arts charity based in Kent. For over a decade, the company was co-commissioned by The Brook Theatre in Chatham to create a series of acclaimed, sell-out productions for early years children, becoming a much-loved local tradition.
Today, Icon is recognised nationally as a specialist in participatory theatre, placing community voices at the centre of bold, large-scale productions. Recent landmark works include Ghost Ships, a co-production with ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company and Amina Khayyam Dance Company, and The Ballad of St John’s Car Park, co-created with writer Tabby Lamb.
From 2019–2022, Icon ran one of only five nationwide Youth Performance Partnerships, transforming cultural opportunities for young people in areas of low arts engagement. In 2023, Icon joined Arts Council England’s National Portfolio, standing alongside some of the country’s leading cultural organisations.
“Quite unlike anything you’ve seen before… irresistible” ★★★★ Telegraph
To Book This Production
For more details and to book this production contact:
Jemma Robinson, Senior Producer
jemma@icontheatre.org.uk
0777 959 2431
An Icon Theatre production, co-produced with The Albany, Deptford. This production is supported by Arts Council England, Garfield Weston Foundation and The Garrick Trust.
Photos: (c) Roswitha Chesher
Trailer: Martin Collins
