A magical Christmas is guaranteed this year as we reveal our enchanting new show for young audiences, Mr Snow, coming to our Courtyard theatre from 30 November to 4 January. This fun family adventure will run alongside The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in the Quarry theatre, ensuring audiences will have an absolute (snow)ball throughout the festive season.
Writer Robert Alan Evans and Director Amy Leach wowed audiences in 2019 with their fun festive family tale The Night Before Christmas and are teaming up again for Mr Snow, a twinkle-tastic show about Blessyou, a child who lives in the North Pole with their polar explorer dad and their best friend Beartie.
Playwright Robert Alan Evans, who also wrote and directed Crumble’s Search for Christmas at Leeds Playhouse in 2017, said: “I’m so happy to be back at the Playhouse this Christmas. The theatre is a unique place in the UK, being so well loved by its audiences and so important as a place where people from all over Leeds and beyond can come together and escape into a snow-filled world for an hour or so.
“I love making work for families because I think stories can bring people together. Whether you’re eight years old or 80, I hope that Mr Snow will make you laugh together and, who knows, maybe relax a little as you remember that Christmas can be fun after all.”
Amy Leach, Deputy Artistic Director of Leeds Playhouse, said: “I’m beyond excited to be working again with playwright Robert Alan Evans on such a magical festive show. It’s like all my Christmases have come at once!
“Mr Snow is such a beautiful story full of joy, wonder and hope. It’s a fun festive adventure about being together with the ones we love – whether they are family, friends or our favourite teddy bear. I can’t wait to share the show – and the snow – with everyone. It’s going to be an absolute blast.”
Blessyou is surrounded by penguins, polar bears and piles and piles of snow, spending their days fishing (for their favourite fishfingers), dreaming of adventure, avoiding studying for their snow exams, and missing someone very special.
But when their dad brings home a jar of unusual snow – extraordinary things begin to happen.
“When I was eight, I spent a lot of time worrying about tests, exams and whether I was getting things right. Too much time.” Robert continued. “I was a bit like Blessyou, always fiddling and breaking things and then being terrified that I’d broken the world. But I never had. I hope the story reminds us that while we might sometimes get lost in our worries, it’s often when things go wrong that we really discover what’s important (like fishfingers and a bit of love).”
Continuing Leeds Playhouse’s commitment to creatively integrated access, this production will be bilingual, performed in both spoken English and British Sign Language (BSL).
Families are at the heart of the theatre experience at the Playhouse. As well as enjoying an array of exciting shows, families can make use of the theatre’s child-friendly facilities, including its free creative play area, baby change and family toilets, highchairs and special catering options.
Mr Snow is in our Courtyard theatre from 30 November to 4 January. Tickets are on sale to Leeds Playhouse’s Priority Access, Playhouse Pass Members and Under 30 Scheme from 27 March, with tickets on general sale from 3 April.
The production is sponsored by our Access Partner Irwin Mitchell. They have been a committed partner of our award-winning access programme since 2009, enabling the Playhouse to deliver accessible performances and supporting its pioneering development of Relaxed and Dementia Friendly Performances.
