The Snowman, Theatre Royal

There was only one question on the lips of the audience as the lights dimmed for this truly magical experience...

“Will he fly?”

And as James and his cool new friend gracefully left the ground we too were taken on a journey in this masterpiece of dance, drama and fantasy.

The Snowman truly is a tale of friendship and discovery as a young boy enjoys the trip of a lifetime packed with the colourful characters we're now so familiar with from television. 

The freedom of the stage, rather than being a constraint to the action, allows for so much more imagination and colour.

The first section set the scene for young James's home life, his discovery that the world outside his front door was white-over; building a snowman and making the amazing discovery that it could come to life.

This is the Birmingham Repertory Theatre's acclaimed production and with no dialogue, the story is beautifully told through music and movement. So we are treated to real musicians in the orchestra pit and what seems like a cast of dozens – although the programme assures us the actors are doubling up during the show. 

The opening night's child actor, Archie Durrant, is a fizzing ball of life with the many strings to his bow including dance, mime and acrobatics. But he looks very assured and comfortable, despite being centre stage for almost all of the hour and 20 minutes.

Aside from raising a laugh with his clever creation of the snowman, he sparks a kitchen scene of limbo-dancing fruit, plays a major role in the North Pole dance routines (with the big man in red there too) and helps defeat the naughty Jack Frost. The traditional toys in the playroom come to life in a most charming manner and it's all so easy to believe in.

The flying sequences (always magical in theatre) are gracefully done with child and snowman perfectly co-ordinated as they travel the globe.

There are some 60 costumes in the show, and it's said the 11 snowmen costumes take up more than 11 miles of white netting to create. The spectacular has more backstage crew than dancers, such is its complexity. 

Attention to detail is key, from the expressions on the performers' faces to the snowman's familiar hat and scarf. 

For all the world it's as though the actors have been plucked from the pages of the book and it's clear that 20 years of The Snowman on stage have honed the polite doff of the hat, the seamless scene changes, and energetic choreography that never lets up.

So does the tale end in the sadness of a lost friendship as the thaw sets in? There's only one way to find out... get along to enjoy the all-dancing festive conclusion!