The Snowman Review: a flurry of festive magic this Christmas season
29 October 2026 | 18:00 | Birmingham Rep - with Peacock Theatre, London
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | PR - Invite
The Snowman is a much-loved seasonal classic, originally illustrated by Raymond Briggs in 1978, before being brought to life in the iconic 1982 animated film. A multi-generational story that many of us have grown up with. In 1993, its stage adaptation premiered at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, where it has since found an annual home, becoming something of a Christmas tradition here.
For the 2026 festive season, the production has been reimagined featuring brand-new designs by Tahra Zafar, whose work on Paddington: The Musical has received widespread critical acclaim.
The result lies in a production that beautifully honours traditional theatre magic, with contemporary lighting (Matt Daw), video designs (Nina Dunn for PixelLux) and illusions (Chris Fisher) each contributing to a stagecraft that captures the imaginations of all, young and old. Being able to retain its sense of nostalgia is a special quality, adding in some gorgeous additional puppetry from Daisy Beattie (the cat is a personal favourite of mine!) as the final ingredient in a visually engaging show.
Having seen this revival in October for its press night at Birmingham Rep (before transferring to London's Peacock Theatre), I have to ask: is it ever really too early for Christmas? The auditorium is filled with children of every age, completely captivated by the spectacle before them. Gasps, excited whispers and shouts become a regular accompaniment to Howard Blake's beautiful score, as Andrew Ashton takes the role of The Snowman alongside Tate Masuku as The Boy.
It is also worth highlighting that this production will see four young performers sharing the role of the Boy, as follows: Felix Anderson, Jake Durant, Tristan Marwa and Tate Masuku, all of whom are exceptional and will certainly each bring their own warmth and energy to the show. This being said, Masuku certainly sets the bar high for tonight's performance! He navigates the demands and complexities of the role with remarkable confidence. Even when faced with a small technical mishap onstage, he handled the situation with great professionalism, never allowing it to distract from his, or the audience's enjoyment of the evening.
The direction and choreography by Will Tuckett present yet another highlight, as beautiful ballet technique across the ensemble prove that straight legs and pointed feet will never go out of style! There is something particularly sweet about seeing classical dance woven so seamlessly into a production that is accessible to a wide range of audiences. Whether you are a regular ballet class attendee, or looking to introduce a young theatre enthusiast into the joys of dance, this is a wonderful starting point.
Running at approximately 1hr 40m (including a 20m interval), it is also a manageable length for children, making in an ideal and encouraging environment for little ones who struggle with the lengthier shows, including a mixture of run times as early as 11:00am.
Of course, no review of The Snowman would be complete without gushing over Howard Blake's extraordinary score and libretto. Soaring, emotive and instantly recognisable, the music colours every moment of the production with a twinkling sense of wonder, to add another layer of enchantment to an already charming experience.
The creative team have done a fantastic job of bringing Briggs' pencil illustrations to life. Anna Fleischle's production design, alongside Zafar's Snowman design and Beattie's puppetry, capture the beauty and gentle simplicity of the picture book, where it genuinely feels as if the pages of Briggs' drawings come to life before our very eyes.
Tuckett's revitalised production of The Snowman invites audiences the put aside the cold everyday of British winter, and allow us to embrace our imagination while the magic effortlessly washes over us. An elegant reminder of the power of theatre, the joy of storytelling, and the magic of a family Christmas.
Playing at the Birmingham Rep until Sunday 1st November: https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/the-snowman-2026/
Transferring to London's Peacock Theatre from 21st November - 3rd January 2027: https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/the-snowman-2026/
