The live stage show based on Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman. Music and lyrics by Howard Blake
PRESS RELEASE | BILL ELMS ASSOCIATES on behalf of THE LOWRY
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Birmingham Repertory Theatre
present
The Snowman
The live stage show based on Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman. Music and lyrics by Howard Blake
The Snowman Flies into The Lowry in One Week’s Time.
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Celebrating 13 spellbinding years on the stage the live version of Raymond Briggs’ much-loved children’s classic, The Snowman, returns to The Lowry next week from Tue 22 – Sat 26 November to enchant audiences of all ages.
Since its premiere at The REP the live stage show of The Snowman has thrilled audiences at The Peacock Theatre, London for 13 years and the show made its international debut at the Seoul Opera House, Korea in 2009. It returns back to The Lowry next week for the only northern dates on the tour. The show also has an impressive list of fascinating facts which confirms its place as one of the most popular Christmas stories.
- The Snowman was first shown on television in 1982 and has been screened every Christmas since.
- 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 famous ‘Walking In The Air’ theme tune has been used in many different forms since reaching No 3 in the Charts including a recording by The Band of The Welsh Guards for the Queen’s 80th birthday, a rap version, a heavy metal version and a version with 62 sheep, bells and bagpipes.
- 'Walking In The Air', by Howard Blake, reached number 3 in the UK charts when sung by choirboy Aled Jones in 1985, and the song was voted number 2 in a poll conducted by Classic FM to find out children’s favourite pieces of classical music, beating Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and Tchaikovsky’s Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy amongst others.
- A total of 60 costumes are used for the show and each one is made by hand by Birmingham Repertory Theatre's wardrobe department.
- Each of the 11 snowman costumes takes 1 week to make and they are created from more than 11 miles of white net!
- 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.
- Since its creation in Birmingham the live stage show of The Snowman has delighted audiences in the West End for the last 13 festive seasons.
- Having just signed a new 10 year deal, The Snowman is set to become 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.
- This Christmas The Snowman will fly to Finland, which will be the closest the show has ever been to the North Pole.
- The stage show was filmed in the auditorium of Birmingham Repertory Theatre – The Snowman stage show’s birthplace – with a live audience, 14 cameras and a superb narration spoke by Joanna Lumley. It will be on major DVD release in UK this Christmas 2012.
Sparkling with charm and wit, The Snowman tells the magical story of a young boy’s adventures when his snowman comes miraculously to life on Christmas Eve. A glittering host of international snowmen and snowwomen are joined onstage by an array of colourful characters including dancing penguins, magical reindeer, a beautiful snow princess and her abominable beau Jack Frost and of course, Father Christmas himself. With its joyful combination of classic storytelling, music and dance, The Snowman is an enchanting treat for all the family.
The Snowman first appeared as a beautifully illustrated picture book by Raymond Briggs in 1978. It has since inspired the classic Oscar Nominated, BAFTA Award winning animated film, first transmitted by Channel 4 on Christmas Eve, 1982. The film’s signature song Walking in the Air, by Howard Blake, reached number 3 in the UK charts when sung by choirboy Aled Jones in 1985, and the song was recently voted no 2 in a poll conducted by Classic FM to find out children’s favourite pieces of classical music, beating Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and Tchaikovsky’s Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy amongst others.
‘This is sheer theatrical magic. Go see The Snowman and melt.’ The Times
A video of The Snowman can be viewed by clicking here http://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/about/snowman-home/videos/
LISTING INFORMATION
THE SNOWMAN
The Lowry
Tue 22 – Sat 26 November 2011
Times Tue – Sat 7pm, Wed & Thu 1.30pm, Sat 2pm
Tickets £16 - £27
How to Book: In person from The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, M50 3AZ, call 0843 2086005 or go online www.thelowry.com
Running time: 1hr 40mins (Approx Inc interval)
Recommended for everyone aged 3 and over.
-ENDS-
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Notes to Editors
For more information, interviews and competition requests or review tickets, please contact Bill Elms at Bill Elms Associates on 0151 245 0135 | 07930 454376 | bill@billelms.com
Press Performance: Tue 22 November - 7pm
Further information on The Snowman can be found by clicking here
http://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/about/snowman-home
IMAGE GALLERY
For images, please go to The Lowry’s image library www.thelowryimages.com. New users need to register by clicking on ‘register’ on the left hand side of the page, fill in the required information (which includes creating your own password) and click ‘create account’. You will then have access to images via the log-in page by clicking on All Albums >Theatre>Christmas Shows>The Snowman
BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY COMPANY
Birmingham Repertory Theatre is one of Britain’s leading national theatre companies. Founded nearly 100 years ago by Sir Barry Jackson, the company will celebrate its centenary in 2013. As a pioneer of new plays, the commissioning and production of new work lies at the core of The REP’s programme and over the last five years the company has produced more than 130 new plays. The REP’s productions regularly transfer to London and tour nationally and internationally. Recent tours have included The Snowman which made its international debut in Korea in 2009, a new staging of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials, the world premiere of Dennis Kelly's Orphans. The REP is currently undergoing re-development as part of the new Library of Birmingham, which is due to open in 2013. This new partnership will see the two cultural venues sharing public spaces and a new purpose-built 300-seat auditorium. This marks a significant period in the history of The REP and it brings an exciting time artistically as audiences are currently able to enjoy and experience an imaginative programme of REP productions in other theatres and non-theatrical spaces across Birmingham. The company has also recently announced the appointment of Roxana Silbert as Artistic Director. Roxana will join The REP for the company's centenary celebrations and return to its newly-developed building in 2013.
THE LOWRY
The Lowry celebrated its 10th anniversary on 28 April 2010 and has spent 11 years delighting, engaging and challenging both local and national audiences with the very best in visual art and performance. The Lowry Centre Trust is a not-for-profit charitable organisation and registered charity (no. 1053962). All income supports our world-class Theatres and Galleries programme, the care and display of the LS Lowry Collection and our life-changing Community and Education work. The Lowry’s Chief Executive, Julia Fawcett was awarded an OBE for services to the Arts in the Queen’s 2010 New Year Honours list.
Posted on Tuesday, 15 November 2011 under News Press Theatre Press