Slava's Snowshow

Slava, a burly and bearded Russian man, is the creator of this worldwide phenomenon of a show. It could be described as a clowning act, but this production is so much more than that and deserves to be recognised as such. In Slava’s own words it is "a theatre of hopes and dreams, suffused with solitude and longing, premonitions and disillusions between art and life, tragedy and comedy, absurdity and naivety, cruelty and tenderness."

Slava’s Snowshow is a true feast for the senses. He presents us with a kaleidoscopic world where adults become children again, a bed transforms into a mythic boat, multi-coloured bubbles drift loftily around the theatre, and the rules of reality are quite forgotten.

Perhaps this show’s title is a little deceptive. Snow is, indeed, very much involved in the production and it often helps to create moments of pure spectacle and extravagance. A mighty blizzard, for example, is blown across the audience in the midst of an almost blinding white light. That said, the magic that truly lies in this very special production is in the intricacies of movement and expression. Slava draws on influences from the roots of clowning, pantomime and comedy and also, of course, observations of the world around him. 

Although these figures in front of you bear resemblance to the conventional clown, there is a depth and a lyricism to each character that pushes them beyond the realm of mere entertainment and into a world of theatre that is able to evoke true emotion in its audience. It is the movement of a hand, the lift of an intricately painted brow or the minutest of changes in voice pitch that can have such an impact.

The attention to detail within this production shines through and that, it seems, is what draws in the crowds again and again. A rare treat for adults and children alike, Slava’s Snowshow will no doubt continue to mesmerize and enchant audiences worldwide for many years to come.