The Magic Of The Snow Queen At The Lowry

Celebrating over 200 years of Hans Christian Andersen, Italy’s internationally acclaimed Teatro Kismet returns to The Lowry with an enchanting production of The Snow Queen. Their 2002 tour of Beauty and the Beast left audiences spellbound and this visit, between Tue 20 – Sat 24 February, looks set to do the same.

One of Andersen's most loved stories, The Snow Queen follows the heroic adventures of Gerda as she goes in search of her beloved friend Kay, whose heart is frozen when he is captured by the Snow Queen and taken to her icy palace at the ends of the earth. Its enduring appeal comes from its universal themes of rites of passage, the power of love, our relationship with diversity, and our need as human beings for each other.

The Snow Queen is a highly entertaining show, performed to excite and move children but it also is sophisticated in its use of symbolism, imagery and the poetic text, addressing the deeper meanings of the tale and allows adults to appreciate the work on another level.

In its 25 year history, Teatro Kismet has become one of Europe's leading practitioners of theatre for young audiences. It has a reputation for a highly physical and visual style of theatre appealing both to children and adult audiences and its award winning productions have toured to Australia, the Far East, Africa and throughout Europe.

The company employs a range of theatrical styles and techniques including aerial acrobatics, dance, martial arts, and bold caricature. The dramatic use of lighting, designed by Vincent Longuemare, and a highly evocative soundtrack (from Carmen to Tosca) help to create the intense atmosphere of the production. This blend of energetic direction and imaginative technical wizardry creates a stunning visual version of Andersen’s story.

Teatro Kismet has previously toured the UK with productions of Little Red Riding Hood (1994), Pinocchio (1996), Beauty and the Beast (2002) and Little Mysteries (2004). They featured in Brighton Festival with a new production of Gilgamesh (2004) and co-produced an original new work for children with Birmingham REP, Through the Woods (2004).

The Snow Queen is a co-production with Athens Festival and was originally commissioned and produced by Setagaya Public Theatre, Tokyo. The UK tour, following an extensive tour of Italy and France, is produced by Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse and funded by Arts Council England, through its grants for the arts programme.

The Snow Queen is most suitable for ages 7 upwards

The Snow Queen
Tue 20 – Sat 24 February
The Lowry, Salford Quays, Greater Manchester
Times: Tue 7pm, Wed & Thu 1.30pm, Fri 10.30am & 7pm, Sat 2pm & 7pm
Tickets: £12 - £18, Family tickets £32 - £56
Box office: Thelowry.com