Preview: Snow Queen at Newcastle Theatre Royal

Scottish Ballet Returns to Newcastle With a Stunning Seasonal Spectacular

The Snow Queen

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Wednesday 12 - Saturday 15 February 2020

The ever-popular Scottish Ballet make a dazzling return to Newcastle Theatre Royal with a seasonal treat for the whole family. In celebration of Scottish Ballet’s 50^th anniversary year, The Snow Queen will be playing its only tour dates in England from Wednesday 12 – Saturday 15 February 2020.

Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s much-loved tale, which was also the basis for Disney’s hit film Frozen, Scottish Ballet’s The Snow Queen is a story of love and friendship that will delight audiences of all ages. The action is driven by three central female characters: the brave young Gerda on a quest to rescue her true love, the enigmatic pickpocket Lexi at her side, and the powerful Snow Queen at the centre of it all.

Created in collaboration with multi-award-winning designer Lez Brotherston, The Snow Queen will take audiences from a bustling winter’s market, through a fairytale forest, and into the icy realms of the Snow Queen’s palace. The production will include a colourful cast of characters dressed in a total of 111 custom-made costumes, from a circus ringmaster and his troupe to dancing snowflakes and, of course, the dazzling Snow Queen herself. 

Set to the music of Russian composer Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, the specially adapted score by Richard Honner will be performed live by the full Scottish Ballet Orchestra. One highlight will be an on-stage violin solo, set to send shivers down audiences’ spines as the choreography, design and music come together for dramatic effect. 

Christopher Hampson, CEO / Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet, said: “It’s been an extraordinary year for Scottish Ballet, and I’m thrilled that we bring our 50th anniversary celebrations to a close with the world premiere of The Snow Queen. Unpicking this fairytale to bring out its most compelling characters and focusing on their journeys has been a rewarding process. Working with the brilliant Lez Brotherston, we have reimagined the story in a spectacular new world and I hope it will entertain and delight audiences of all ages.”

Lez Brotherston, Designer, said: “It’s rare to be given the opportunity to create the visual imagery for a new piece of work; designing costumes and set to tell the story. Christopher and I have collaborated on creating our own version of The Snow Queen, giving opportunities to dance and movement as we create new characters and their backstories. For me, The Snow Queen has got magic, mystery and romance and it’s my hope that audiences will be taken on a journey that catches their imagination this winter.”

Photos: Andy Ross

Tickets

The Snow Queen plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal Wednesday 12 - Saturday 15 February 2020 playing evenings at 7.30pm and matinees Thursday 2pm and Saturday 2.30pm.Tickets from £15.50 can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk.