Slava's Snow Show

4
Slava Polunin's now famous show touring the UK and seen in Bristol.
By Robert Iles - 24th Nov 2017

Many greens in ship - brighter (photo by Veronique Vial)This is my fifth time seeing Slava's Snow Show over an 8 year period and the actual snowy scene I first saw in 2006 as part of Cirque du Soleil's Alegria in the Royal Albert Hall - it blew me away and made me a lifelong fan of Russian and Eastern European clowning - as far from the British version as you can possibly imagine.

I think, in the early days, I perhaps saw it a bit too often so I was glad of a long break and of the chance to see it again and I was delighted to find that it is still one hell of a show! The highlight moment (no spoilers!) was more effective than when last I saw this on stage and made me tingle - it is without doubt the most purely theatrical and powerful bit of staging I know, in any show. Knowing what was coming, we sat and took it whilst those around us squealed in delight and turned away - this is one to take full in the face if you want maximum thrill!

The first half of the show is a series of small stories between the greens and the yellows, these are each quite magical - entertaining for the children in the audience and thought provoking for the adults. I love them and the end of the first act is quite special with the whole audience becoming involved. though the spider moment was lost on much of the audience around us as they were too involved in the web - a shame.

The second half is essentially the Snow Show proper, a magical tale told with breathtaking skill. Having seen it before I know the story, it used to make me cry but seemed to have lost its power in the translation to this stage. The narrative has become disjoint, the loss of the little train and the now fleeting village mean we do not feel the full power of the journey and I'm afraid that the final demise was completely lost - to say I miss the death in the clowning sounds strange but when seen in its entirety this is a completely overwhelming piece of theatre.

There are many really magical moments in this show and I would urge anyone who loves theatre to see it at least once in their life to get a feel for exactly how touching and entertaining clowing can be ... stay through the interval and linger when the show is over, there are some experiences that I promise you will never forget.


Latest News & Reviews

28th Mar 24 :: Review: The Wizard of Oz
Touring production seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
4
27th Mar 24 :: Critics Circle Awards
The winners of this year's Critics' Circle Theatre Awards have been announced.
22nd Mar 24 :: Review: The Motive and the Cue
Live broadcast seen at the Regal Cinema, Wadebridge.
5
12th Mar 24 :: Review: Macbeth
English Touring Theatre (ETT) production seen in Worthing,
3
7th Mar 24 :: Review: The Life of Pi
Touring production seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth
5
6th Mar 24 :: Review: And Then There Were None
Touring production seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
2
5th Mar 24 :: Review: Musclebound
Seen at The Front Room, Weston-super-Mare
3
2nd Mar 24 :: Review: Marry Me A Little
Seen at The Stage Door Theatre, Drury Lane
2
28th Feb 24 :: Review: Cable Street
Seen at the Southwark Playhouse, Borough.
3
28th Feb 24 :: Review: Carlos Acosta - On Before
Seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth
4
26th Feb 24 :: Offies Winners 2024
WInners of the Offies 2024 awards have been announced.
15th Feb 24 :: Review: The Drifters Girl
Touring production seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
4
12th Feb 24 :: Review: Whatsonstage Awards Winners
The winners of the Whatsonstage Awards announced.
0
6th Feb 24 :: Review: Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell
Selected dates until 26 February at the Coach and Horses, 29 Greek Street, London W1D 5DH
4
5th Feb 24 :: Review: Macbeth
David Tennant and Cush Jumbo at the Donmar Warehouse
4
20th Jan 24 :: Review: Disney's Aladdin
Touring production seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
4
19th Jan 24 :: Review: Alegria - Cirque du Soleil
The latest production seen at the Royal Albert Hall
3
20th Dec 23 :: Review: Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Pantomime seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth
4
18th Dec 23 :: Review: Sleeping Beauty
Panto at the Pavilion Theatre, Worthing.
4
13th Dec 23 :: Review: A Christmas Carol
Guy Masterson's one-man production seen in Boscastle
5

Most Popular Stories

Viewings over the last 10 days
 
Birmingham Royal Ballet - Black Sabbath
Touring production seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
Posted 13th Oct 23 :: 141 views
The Life of Pi
Touring production seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth
Posted 7th Mar 24 :: 107 views
And Then There Were None
Touring production seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
Posted 6th Mar 24 :: 101 views
The Motive and the Cue
Live broadcast seen at the Regal Cinema, Wadebridge.
Posted 22nd Mar 24 :: 101 views
Cable Street
Seen at the Southwark Playhouse, Borough.
Posted 28th Feb 24 :: 100 views
Musclebound
Seen at The Front Room, Weston-super-Mare
Posted 5th Mar 24 :: 94 views
The Drifters Girl
Touring production seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
Posted 15th Feb 24 :: 92 views
Macbeth
English Touring Theatre (ETT) production seen in Worthing,
Posted 12th Mar 24 :: 87 views
Carlos Acosta - On Before
Seen at the Theatre Royal Plymouth
Posted 28th Feb 24 :: 72 views
Marry Me A Little
Seen at The Stage Door Theatre, Drury Lane
Posted 2nd Mar 24 :: 64 views


Listings powered by Dynamic Listing Ltd
Mastodon X - Twitter Multidomain certificate installed
© Dynamic Listing Ltd, UK. 1995-2024