Icon Theatre is delighted to announce the world premiere of
The Snow Queen: A Woodland Adventure, a magical Christmas co-production with the Albany.
Packed with original sing-along songs, puppetry, dance and audience interaction, this joyful new take on the beloved fairytale is a celebration of friendship, warmth and the wonder of helping one another. From artistic director Nancy Hirst (co-creator
of the Saves Christmas theatre series, Brook Theatre), with design by Laura McEwen (Well Done Mummy Penguin, the Albany;
The Princess and the Pea, Unicorn Theatre), and original music by Eamonn O’Dwyer (The Lion Inside, Southbank Centre),
The Snow Queen is a festive treat for young audiences and their grown-ups alike.

It’s Christmas Eve in Bluebell Wood. Gerda, the littlest mouse, is having a sleepover party with her best friend Kai — and everyone
is invited. But something is wrong. There’s a chill in the air. The Snow Queen has cast an unhappiness spell over the animals of Bluebell Wood. Suddenly, Kai starts acting strangely and in a flurry of snow, he disappears. Gerda must act — and she’ll need all
the help she can get. Can you join her on a magical journey to rescue Kai and lift the spell in time for Christmas?

Artistic Director, writer and director Nancy Hirst said, “It’s a privilege to be creating Icon’s next children’s theatre production
in partnership with the Albany. We’re looking forward to sharing The Snow Queen: A Woodland Adventure with the communities of Deptford and south London this December. This reimagining of
The Snow Queen is full of heart, music and mischief, and invites children to step into a festive, snowy world where even the smallest voices can make the biggest difference. It’s a joy to collaborate with an incredible team of freelance artists and theatre-makers
on bringing this new production to life.”

Creative Director and Co-CEO of the Albany Vicki Dela Amedume MBE said, “It’s such a joy for us to be collaborating with Icon
Theatre, whose work we’ve admired for many years. I’m so excited to see Nancy’s beautiful words spring to life on stage, and to share a magical festive experience with schools, families, and communities across Deptford, Lewisham, and beyond at the Albany this
winter.”

Nancy Hirst founded Icon Theatre in 2002 with the vision of creating accessible, high-quality participatory theatre projects
and productions. Nancy has worked as a freelance director on projects at companies and venues including Opera North, Royal Opera House, Yvonne Arnaud, Soho Theatre, Battersea Arts Centre, The Arcola and the Young Vic. Her productions have won awards including
the Scotsman Fringe First, Music and Drama Education, and Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Awards.

Icon Theatre is an award-winning theatre company and participatory arts charity led by artistic director Nancy Hirst. For over
a decade, it has created popular interactive Christmas shows for early years children at The Brook Theatre in Chatham, with recent titles including
Little Fox’s Christmas Garden, The Little Lost Frog and the Christmas Wish, and
Reginald Rabbit Rescues Christmas. Icon produces large-scale, site-specific, outdoor, and immersive theatre by collaborating with world-class artists and local communities. Recent productions include
Ghost Ships (Historic Dockyard Chatham), co-produced with ZooNation and Amina Khayyam Dance Company;
The Ballad of St John’s Car Park (St George’s Hotel), If Not Now (Rochester Castle) and
The Chatham Witch (Fort Amherst). Icon also runs an award-winning youth programme and delivers participatory theatre in schools, drop-in centres and criminal justice settings.

The Albany
is a performing arts centre in South East London, dedicated to inspiring, developing, and supporting creativity rooted in its local communities. Hosting year-round events—including award-winning programmes for young creatives and over-60s, alongside music,
theatre, and family shows—the Albany is driven by local talent and imagination. A hub for innovation, it houses 22 resident organisations and supports emerging talent through initiatives like weekly takeovers for 12–24-year-olds and the youth record label
REZON8. Its programmes—Associate Artists, Artist of Change, and
Creative Communities Membership—offer vital support to artists and creatives. The Albany’s
Community Council places local voices at the core of its decision-making.