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ABOUT THE SHOW
THE HISTORY OF THE SNOWMAN
1993
The story begins in 1993 when Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s then artistic director Bill
Alexander approached Howard Blake, composer of the 1982 animated film’s score (as well
as the hit song Walking In The Air), to ask how he’d feel about working with The REP to
create a full-length stage version. The show opened at The REP for Christmas 1993 and
was an immediate success.
1997
Following its well-received debut, The Snowman was restaged the show for a second
Christmas season. Having just completed a ballet of the story with choreographer Robert
North in Sweden, Howard convinced Bill that the way forward for The Snowman should be a
full-length dance piece, for which he would write additional music, and more characters
would be added. This performance was filmed by director Thomas Grimm and shown on
BBC TV the following year.
1998
Sadler’s Wells and The REP co-produce a version of the show for London audiences at the
Peacock Theatre, Kingsway, using the same sets, props and costumes. The Snowman has
continued at the Peacock Theatre every year since the first production there in 1998.
2000
The decision is taken to rewrite the second act, adding two entirely new characters, Jack
Frost and the Ice Princess. The show also leaves the UK for the first time when it is
performed in Theater Haarlem in the Netherlands.
2006
The show is performed at Edinburgh Festival Theatre in December. Due to the success of
the show, the costumes, props and sets are all duplicated so that two productions can be
staged simultaneously.
2009
The Snowman flies halfway around the world to be performed in Seoul Arts Centre in Korea.
2010
The Snowman comes back to The REP in January and is filmed once again, this time for a
new DVD release. The same year, productions are held at the Wales Millennium Theatre in
Cardiff and Hoam Art Hall in Seoul.
2011
The Snowman has a very busy year playing at the Lowry Lyric Theatre in Salford, Tampere
Comedy Theatre in Finland and The ICC in Birmingham.
2014
After celebrating his 20th anniversary, The Snowman returns home to The REP.
2016
The Snowman celebrates a record-breaking 19 years at the Peacock Theatre.
SYNOPSIS
One morning, a Boy wakes up and looks out of the window, and sees that the world is
covered in a thick blanket of snow. He gets dressed as fast as he can and runs outside to
play. He soon realises that playing on his own isn’t much fun, so he starts to build a
snowman. It takes him all day but finally his Snowman is finished.
Soon it’s time to go inside but the Boy doesn’t want to go to bed. Eventually his Mum tucks
him up, but soon after the lights go out he gets up again and runs outside.
There’s magic in the air and right in front of the boy’s eyes, all of a sudden his snowman
comes to life! The Snowman follows the Boy inside the house, and together they explore the
house. The Snowman has never been inside a house before so he finds some things scary,
like the cat and the fire (which nearly melts him!) but he has great fun trying on different fruit
noses, making friends with the toys in the nursery and even going for a ride on dad’s
motorbike.
All of this playing gets The Snowman really hot, so he has to get into the huge freezer to chill
out and stop himself from melting. Something strange starts to happen when The Snowman
gets in the freezer – goodness me, he’s starting to fly – and he’s taking The Boy with him!
Together they fly through the night sky, over the seas, over mountains, and finally they land
at the North Pole. Whilst they are there, they meet snowmen (and snow-women!) from all
around the world – they are all there for a Christmas party. Even Father Christmas comes to
the party! The Snowman’s friend the Snow Princess is there too, but when naughty Jack
Frost arrives he tries to kidnap her. Luckily the snowmen and the Boy work together to
defeat Jack Frost, just in time for Father Christmas to give out presents to everyone. The
Boy gets a beautiful blue scarf for his present.
Before too long it’s time for The Snowman and the Boy to fly home. Everyone waves them
off and they fly through the night sky to get home in time for Christmas morning. But when
the Boy wakes up in his bed the next morning, he runs outside and sees that his Snowman
has melted and all that’s left is a hat, scarf and some lumps of coal. The Boy wonders if his
adventures were all a dream? Then he realises – it can’t have been a dream because he
still has the blue scarf that Father Christmas gave him.
And look! It’s started snowing again…
BOX OFFICE NOTES

Run time is 1hour, 45 minutes with one interval.

Age guidance is 3+

The live stage show of The Snowman was created in Birmingham at the city’s
Repertory Theatre in 1993 and composer Howard Blake wrote the additional music
whilst backstage at the theatre.

The show celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2013.

Each performance requires 42 people to bring the show to life - 17 dancers, 5
musicians and 20 stage crew.

A total of 60 costumes are used for the show and each one is made by hand in
Birmingham Repertory Theatre's wardrobe department.

265 individual props are used in the show, ranging from authentic-looking lumps of
coal for the Snowmen's noses, toy soldiers, a sleigh, and even a motorcycle with
sidecar.

The Snowman is the longest running Christmas show in English theatre history and
will continue to delight audiences at London's Peacock Theatre for many
Christmases to come.

The show has flown as far as South Korea, Finland and Japan.

A DVD of the live show narrated by Joanna Lumley is available.
KEY SELLING POINTS

The Snowman film has become a Christmas classic and has been shown on
television every year since first being shown in 1982.

The Snowman book is a family favourite and over 8.4 million have been sold
worldwide.

The live stage show has been delighting audiences for over 20 years, having first
been performed in 1993.

It was created with Howard Blake, the composer of the 1982 animated film’s score.

It features Howard Blake’s much-loved 'Walking In The Air'. It reached number 3 in
the UK charts, when sung by choirboy Aled Jones in 1985, and was voted number 2
in a poll conducted by Classic FM to find out children’s favourite pieces of classical
music.

Its accessible story and performance style make it an ideal introduction to theatre for
young children.

A new generation of parents grew up with The Snowman and will be eager to share
their love with their children.

The show is popular throughout the world and has been performed in South Korea,
Finland and Japan.

The show has been performed at London’s Peacock Theatre every year since 1998
and is the longest running Christmas show in English theatre history.