You’ve no doubt seen the film version of ‘Frozen’ (especially if you have young daughters), but if you not yet seen the stage version I urge you to do so.
The stage of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in Covent Garden is amazingly turned into an ice kingdom right before your very eyes in a show that transports you to the world of Queen Elsa (Samantha Barks) and her sister Anna (Emily Lane). From their lives as young children – to grown up women who’ve grown apart due to Elsa’s secret powers that turn the kingdom into ice, and it’s up to Anna to find and save her sister, and the kingdom, from perpetual winter. You see, afraid of her own powers, Elsa isolates herself in her icy castle , away from society, and her family.
It’s like magic that the theatre stage stays very true to the animated movie that has made Disney billions of dollars. From the bedroom the girls share to the ballrooms to the ice palace, and including the gorgeous lavish costumes and, of course the music (including obviously ‘Let it go’ – sung by Barks), and Olaf the snowman. It all comes beautifully on stage together in a production that’s perfect for the young ones and mesmerising enough for the adults.
The most successful animated film of all time has been transformed into a magical, sweeping and memorable stage production, and it has everything you’d want from a fairy tale: beautiful princesses, a snow palace, reindeer, handsome and charming men, ice bridges and sleigh rides, but at its heart is the story of two sisters and their love for each other, no matter the circumstances.
Tickets to ‘Frozen’ are very affordable, just be aware that in keeping with the theme of the show the theatre inside is actually very cold (everyone around us had their jackets and scarves on), and beware of little children chatting away during the show as if they are watching it in their living rooms.
Photo by Johan Persson frozenthemusical.co.uk