Review by Stacey
Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review
William Creative’s production of Frozen JR is truly a magical and heartwarming experience guaranteed to thaw any frozen heart!
Frozen follows the story of two sisters in the kingdom of Arendelle. When the eldest sister Elsa’s icy powers are revealed (and set off an eternal winter!) her sister Anna must journey to find her and bring back summer.
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| Photo by Poyner and Mee |
Having reviewed the company's fantastic production of Matilda Jr last year I was excited to see what they’d do next! The beloved and iconic Disney tale was a perfect pick as we transition from a cold winter to the warmer seasons. And it absolutely didn’t disappoint!
The show consists of 2 casts of incredible young performers, with Team Elsa performing on the 8th, 10th and 11th evening performances, and Team Anna performing on the 9th evening and 11th matinee. (While this review follows Team Elsa’s opening night, credit must be given to both casts who I hope have a wonderful first performance on the 9th!)
Ciara Daisley delivers a warm and endearing performance as Princess Anna, beaming with energy and confidence throughout. Ciara perfectly captures all elements of Anna’s personality and mannerisms, from her optimistic and slightly awkward comedic side to her more naive and feisty moments. Her vocal ability showcases an impressive range with superb technique. “For The First Time In Forever" was a highlight and fantastic introduction to her character.
Martha Whittaker delivers a compelling and emotionally driven performance as Queen Elsa. You can really feel Elsa’s depth and fears in moments and songs such as “Dangerous To Dream” and her self acceptance and newfound freedom in the iconic “Let It Go”. Martha carries a regal, elegant and reserved nature to Elsa which perfectly contrasts with Ciara’s bubbly and energetic performance as Anna.
Credit must also be given to Martha and all the production crew for managing to pull off a fantastic onstage costume change/reveal! It’s clear how much work was put into achieving this and it was done in a very impressive and seamless manner!
One of the most special qualities to Frozen is its moving celebration of sisterly love, and this is clearly showcased between the lovely connection between its lead performers.
Their young counterparts also provide wonderful performances with Evelyn Crossley as Young Anna opening the show with energy and vocal skill, instantly engaging and getting laughs from the audience! Paige Atkins delivers a fantastic performance as Young Elsa and perfectly conveys Elsa’s fear and panic after her powers put Anna at risk. Indiana Burditt’s performance of Middle/Teen Anna really conveys Anna’s desperation and longing for her sister's company while Thea White as Middle/Teen Elsa showcases the progression of Elsa’s isolation with fantastic emotional depth.
Ruben Bruen gives a great performance as the rugged ice harvester Kristoff and makes a wonderful duo with Macy Burditt playing the Reindeer Sven. The interactions between the two and rendition of “Reindeers Are Better Than People” were fun and filled with charm!
Ollie Stocker’s performance of Olaf (paired with a wonderful Olaf Puppet!) was filled with joy and wonder, nailing the comedic delivery of the snowman’s iconic lines, with his “this is the best day of my life!…And quite possibly the last!” as he sinks to the floor being a highlight!
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| Photo by Poyner and Mee |
Austin Parker delivers an excellent performance as Prince Hans with confidence and an impressive ability to command the stage, showcasing both sides to the character brilliantly!
Mention has to be given to Florence Dann as The Duke of Weselton who’s physical comedy, comedic timing and line delivery were absolutely brilliant and never failed to get a laugh from the audience!
The ensemble were absolutely fantastic throughout the show, all clearly enjoying every second! Despite being a very character focused show it was lovely to see utilisation of the full cast throughout with additional chances for singing and dance being given in songs to allow them more involvement throughout the show.
The care given by both the cast and production team to ensure they captured the energy of the characters and citizens of Arendelle is evident, all the while still allowing room for each child to bring something new to the role.
The production was directed by Joshua Taylor-Williams and Cathy Robinson. It’s clear how much pride and joy both must have felt watching these young performers journeys and growth throughout the production process. Their vision is full of spirit, bringing the magic of the film and stage show to life while ensuring every child gets a chance to shine.
Ellie Barratt does a wonderful job as the show’s Musical Director. Frozen’s score is far from simple with multiple overlapping vocal lines and precise timings, however each number was captured wonderfully, with Ellie directing the kids from a screen at the back throughout the show.
The production's Choreographer was Lutricia Russell who did a fantastic job, especially given the large cast size. The choreography for “In Summer”, “Hygge” and “Fixer Upper” were highlights, with “In Summer” in particular showcasing a fun and creative take on the song. The use of dancers to represent Elsa’s magic was also a lovely choice and taken a step further with the use of ribbons which were impressively controlled by the cast and timed extremely well with music.
The show's set was provided by Set for the Show, all of which looking effective on stage and was lovely to see in an age where physical sets are being used less frequently. While there were a few occasions of small pauses while large set pieces such as a door were moved, this was never enough to impact the show and is 100% understandable given the heavy weight of certain set pieces and quick scene changes! The backstage crew did an absolutely fantastic job!
Projection was used effectively above the set, with some creative and unique transitions and choices. Occasionally some of these projections were difficult to make out depending on the lighting but this was extremely minimal.
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| Photo by Poyner and Mee |
Sound operation by Tom Brooks was fantastic throughout! There were very, very few mic issues which is commendable for a show with such a large cast and large amount of costume changes which could impact mics. All tracks were timed without issue and the show ran seamlessly.
Props were provided by Andrea Bruen and Sharon Brown, all pairing perfectly with the set and fantastic costumes which were provided by Andrea Bruen, Erica Haynes and Willow Haynes! The variety of costumes, quick changes and quality of both recognisable leads outfits as well as the ensembles were extremely high-quality and went above and beyond!
With such large casts of talented performers, special mention must be given to the Backstage Crew, Front Of House and Chaperone Team for their care and management of both casts!
Overall the production was an absolute delight, certain to inspire other young children in the audience to want to step onto the stage themselves. I look forward to seeing what William Creative’s do next and for how these young performers continue to grow!
Frozen Jr runs at Leicester's Sue Townsend Theatre from the 8th to the 11th of April, with 2 performances already sold out! So, if you fancy a trip to the kingdom of Arendalle, make sure to book soon.
Limited tickets remain and are available from https://www.ticketor.com/williamscreatives/upcomingevents?frame=1&moduleOnly=1&noheader=1¬opnav=1&nomodulewrap=1&transparent=1&linktarget=blank#
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| Photo by Poyner and Mee |
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