Rose Theatre Kingston presents The Snow Queen – A new version written and directed by Ciaran McConville. The show runs from 6th December 2019 to 5th January 2020, with Press night on Friday 13th December, 7pm.
Ciaran McConville directs a cast of local young actors from Rose Youth Theatre led by a team of professional actors including Helena Blackman (The Snow Queen), Roger May (Dad/Father Christmas), Davina Moon (Freya), Parisa Shahmir (Gerda) and Jack Wolfe (Kai).
Tucked away in a long forgotten corner of the city is an orphanage. Here Gerda discovers that she is no ordinary teenager, but a Child of Magic, hidden from the reaches of the evil Snow Queen. When she shows her powers to her best friend Kai, she unwittingly reveals their whereabouts. Kai is lured away, and Gerda must journey to the Frozen North into the Queen’s clutches to save him.
Her perilous adventure includes an unlikely pirate captain and a talking reindeer, secretive elves and vicious trolls. As the Snow Queen rallies her forces, Gerda must learn the true nature of her magic powers to save Christmas and rescue Kai.
Helena Blackman on The Snow Queen
What is special about this production of The Snow Queen?
Helena: Firstly, it’s always a thrill to be in an original production and work with the writers who also happen to be the director and musical director. I’m honoured they trust us with imagining their work and bringing it to life. This unique opportunity is therefore not only shared by the company, but also by the audience members who have probably never seen a production of the Snow Queen. Certainly, the original fairy story by Hans Cristian Andersen is one I’m least familiar with which now saddens me as I’d love to have visited it as a child. Our story is a complete adventure from start to finish, with so many twists and turns and all accompanied by amazing original underscore and songs. I’m now allowed to say it’s a musical, but….
Can you tell us about your character The Snow Queen?
Helena: It’s so challenging to even try and sum up the Snow Queen. She’s complicated because she’s everything – passionate, psychotic, manipulative, charming, earnest, empowering, engineering, calculated and lost. She wants to rule the world.
Why should everyone get along to see The Snow Queen?
Helena: Because they will never see anything else like it!
The Snow Queen
Listings
Rose Theatre Kingston
24-26 High Street, Kingston, KT1 1HL
6 December 2019 – 5 January 2020
Press performance: Friday 13 December, 7pm
www.rosetheatrekingston.org
Twitter: @Rosetheatre
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