“A magical adaptation by Colin Wakefield and Kate Edgar of the original tale by Hans Christian Andersen… This is a great show.”
(SOMERSET GUARDIAN)

SNOW QUEEN	F
SPIRIT OF SPRING	F
CHIEF HOBGOBLIN	M
GRANDMOTHER	F
KAY	M
GERDA	F
BERT CROW	M
ELSIE CROW	F
KINGFISHER	M
HUMMINGBIRD	F
CHIEF BUTTERFLY	F
DEPUTY BUTTERFLY	F
PRINCESS	F
PRINCE	M
RUDI THE REINDEER	M
OLD ROBBER WOMAN	F
LITTLE ROBBER GIRL	F
OLD LAPP WOMAN	F
Children
Little KAY	M
Little GERDA	F
Middle KAY	M
Middle GERDA	F
CHORUSES of HOBGOBLINS, BUTTERFLIES, SNOWFLAKES, PENGUINS, FOOTMEN, COURTIERS and ROBBERS.
CASTING NOTE: This a large-cast show, but it is possible for a producer to devise a scheme of doubling for a smaller company. This show was commissioned by the Merlin Theatre, Frome, which had a large number of actors at its disposal, and our brief was to write for as many principals and for as large a chorus as was consistent with the original story.

GRANDMOTHER’S HEARTH
THE TOWN SQUARE
SPRING JOURNEY
THE ROYAL BEDCHAMBER
THE ROBBERS’ LAIR
THE ICE PALACE

There were no Frontcloths in the original production, but each Act has a Prologue, so Frontcloths may be used if desired.

The design, staging and scale of any production can be as lavish or as simple as resources allow. This is not a pantomime, so there are no spectacular transformations or routines, and no walkdown.

Fourteen Numbers and Dances. These are scored for two keyboards, base and drums, but the instrumentation can be adapted to suit resources..

THE SNOW QUEEN was first performed at the Merlin Theatre, Frome,
on 6th December 2007.

The script and music for THE SNOW QUEEN are published by JOSEF WEINBERGER PLAYS (020 7580 2827), who handle all contracts and from whom inspection copies are available.

SNOW QUEEN	F
HER TWO ACOLYTES	M/F
GRANNY/NARRATOR	F
KAI	M
GERDA	F
HUMMING BIRD	M/F
KERRY ‘THE KING’ FISHER	M
BERT CROW	M
ELSIE CROW	F
PRINCESS	F
PRINCE	M
OLD ROBBER WOMAN	F/M
LITTLE ROBBER GIRL	F
ROBBER	M/F
RUDI THE REINDEER	M
OLD LAPP WOMAN	F
The show can be performed by a cast of up to 17, but the original production was staged with a cast of 7 actors (3M. 4F), who doubled as follows: F1: F2: F3: F4: M1: M2: M3: THE SNOW QUEEN (throughout) GERDA (throughout) GRANNY, ELSIE CROW, OLD LAPP WOMAN ACOLYTE, HUMMING BIRD, PRINCESS, LITTLE ROBBER GIRL KAI, KERRY FISHER, PRINCE, ROBBER ACOLYTE, BERT CROW, OLD ROBBER WOMAN RUDI THE REINDEER (this actor was also on KEYBOARDS throughout)

Act One
GRANNY’S ATTIC
THE SQUARE
GRANNY’S ATTIC
SPRING JOURNEY
THE ROYAL BEDCHAMBER

Act Two
ROBBERS’ LAIR
WINTER WASTES/LAPLAND
THE ICE PALACE
GRANNY’S ATTIC

The design and staging can be as simple or as lavish as resources allow. This is not a pantomime, so there are no transformations, grand set pieces, or extravagant costume changes.

Thirteen Numbers. The first production was cast with seven actor/musicians, with no separate band or MD. But the music has also been scored for two keyboards, so the show can be performed by non-instrumentalists – i.e. as a more conventional musical.

This version of THE SNOW QUEEN was first performed at
Theatre Royal Margate on 10th December 2009.

The script for this version of THE SNOW QUEEN (A Licence to Chill) is now published by Double Honours Publications, and is available for sale on Amazon, but enquiries should be addressed to JOSEF WEINBERGER PLAYS (020 7580 2827), who handle all contracts and from whom inspection copies are available.


Photographs of the Theatre Royal Margate production
by Nick Gurney