There is little in life to surpass the child-like anticipation of Christmas and this year with a combination of six and four year olds who are both head over heels in love with the magic but old enough to partake fully in every thing the season has to offer to the wide-eyed youngster, I can't imagine it getting better than this.
We went to see The Snowman as it opened, right at the end of November, something to be highly recommended as there is nothing that says 'Christmas is coming!' like a viewing of The Snowman. We emerged, enchanted as always, and ready to deck the halls, crack open the Rutter and throw our selves head-first into advent. Christmas for me, more than any other season, is the time for memories,
for dreaming and re-gaining the wonder in life. The Snowman was Culturebaby's first
ballet, and it has held us all, as Waugh would say, a 'finger's breadth from the turf' ever since.
The
Snowman with its classical score is so distinctive and
dynamic that it alone can paint pictures in the mind's eye. I was stunned that from three, Culturebaby was able to narrate what was
happening in the story accurately from the music alone. And then there is the story itself, heartbreaking and instructive on so many levels.
Ultimately it is a tale of belief, friendship, living life to the full and dealing
with loss.
The
production, which follows the broad format of the film, is particularly effective as a stage show because it captures the depth of emotion and wonder present in the story, but with an enormous injection of joy. Refusing to take itself too seriously, the ballet features dancing fruit, a jolly (if rather windy) Father Christmas, waltzing penguins and mischievious Jack Frost, determined to capture the hand of the Snowman's dainty dance partner. The sets are simple but effective - they even manage a motorbike on stage - and of course the magical moment where the pair take flight is achieved with gasps of delight by the children. This year we particulary loved the scene with the toys, which come to life in James's (the boy's) bedroom. A dancing ballerina, a bear and a solider all join in the fun, as a toy train makes its way across the stage. Likewise the Snowman's ball is musically and visually gorgeous. I've said before that one of the most brilliant elements of this performance is that it also contains a
small boy, only a few years older than the host of children wishing themselves in his shoes. What wonderful
inspiration for any tiny dreamer! Every year the girls also harbour a fascination with the unnerving but gymnastic Jack Frost. One year on, it was the first thing 4 year old Culturetot mentioned as she glanced at the posters on arrival at the theatre. It's sometimes astounding what can stick in the memories of even the littlest of theatre-goers.
Its a testament to a great family production that The Snowman is able to hold an audience of the very young captivated throughout, rising only to join the boy as he dances in the snow falling from the ceiling at the end, with its optimistic
implication that our eponymous hero could return. That is, of course, the crucial promise of the coda of this piece; that even before the advent of a sequel it never really seemed possible that this was truly the end. The hopefulness of a fresh fall of snow is the perfect ending to a magical performance.Over the years we've had so much fun with the Snowman that we've now accumulated a list of specifically themed activities to accompany the show and provide some creative inspiration. These work for a wide range of children's ages.
1. Snowman and Snowdog Christmas Cookies
These simple Christmassy smelling and tasting biscuits are based on an extremely
simple recipe. A golden
syrup, ginger and cinnamon combination worked really well for the
season. Sift together 350g plain flour, 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Add 2tsp ground ginger and 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Add 125g butter and blend until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in 175g soft brown sugar.
Lightly beat an egg and 4tsp golden syrup together, add to mixture and
blend until the mixture clumps together. Knead until smooth, wrap in
cling film and chill in the fridge for 15 minutes or so whilst you
preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/Gas Mark 4 and line baking trays with
greaseproof paper.
Roll the dough out to around 0.5cm on a lightly floured surface. Create shapes using the cutters.
Place on baking tray and bake for 12-15 minutes. Leave to cool for 10 minutes.
We then varied the recipe to suit tiny hands using roll-out icing to
cover each biscuit (also using the cutters) and tubes of food
colouring gel for decoration.
Lots
of parents arrange an advent
activity called Elf on The Shelf, where a cheeky little helper is sent
by Santa to keep an eye on the household and consequently gets into
mishaps along the way. This isn't something we have ever done, but one
year we decided that our large cuddly snowman might enjoy some elf-like
antics. Given that he is the ideal
companion for a child throughout this festive season, and he already
loves exploring the house (and gets into a few scrapes along the way),
he was the perfect messenger from the North Pole for us: our very own
Snowman on the Shelf. 3. Create a Snowman Themed Christmas Play Basket
Between 2 and 3, little ones are beginning to draw with clear
intention and increasing ability. Using playdoh is another
way to foster this interest, and three years ago we tried modelling the
characters from the Snowman, and watching others do so - as well as 'melting' (squashing)
the snowman afterwards. Creating the scene
of the house from playdoh and acting out certain parts of the book was really effective.
5. Imaginative Play and Storytelling with Characters
This
activity was revived a couple of years on the run. The first year,
we created a snowy landscape
with a large white towel and, listening to the audio soundtrack, used
one of Culturebaby's play cottages and characters, with her toy snowman,
to act out parts of the story. The second year, we set up a sheet of
faux snow material and included the scenes with the dance of the
snowmen, when Father Christmas gives James the gift of the scarf and the
final morning. The girls have reached the stage where they happily act out stories together. I may resurrect the materials to see how they use them.
6. First science experiments - Three years ago we took a few ice cubes and let them melt in a bowl at room temperature. We talked about what was happening and why - and of course why the Snowman had started to melt when he sat too close to the fireplace. Practical activities like this have also helped the girls understand and discuss differences in temperature.
The Snowman is currently on at The Peacock Theatre, WC2A 2HT from Thursday 23 November - Sunday 31 December 2017
Performances: 11am, 2.30pm & 7pm. Times vary on selected dates. See website for full schedule.
Tickets: £15 - £36
Family Ticket: £115 (four tickets including at least one child)
Ticket Office: 020 7863 8222 or www.peacocktheatre.com
The Production will also be touring as follows:
The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (10-14 January), Milton Keynes Theatre (17-20 January) and Theatre Royal, Brighton (24-28 January).
Disclaimer: We received tickets to The Snowman in exchange for an honest review. We return to The Snowman annually - its a joy and a tradition. Long may the magic last. Images Courtesy of Sadlers Wells Press Office.
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