The brand-new production of Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman is this week premiering at the Birmingham Rep before transferring to London for the festive season.

Given that it’s not even Halloween until tomorrow, and with Bonfire Night still to come, it did feel a little early to be meeting Father Christmas! But then, on the other hand, it’s only 57 shopping days to Christmas, so maybe there’s some merit in starting to channel that familiar festive feeling!

The Snowman was published as a wordless picture book in 1978. The classic animated film adaptation, which routinely appears in the Christmas television schedules every year, was first shown on Boxing Day 1982. The story was told through pictures, action and a now-iconic soundtrack by Howard Blake. There was no dialogue between the characters. The only voice heard was that of Peter Auty, a 13-year-old choirboy from St Paul's Cathedral, who sang the film’s centrepiece song, Walking In The Air.

Since 1993, The Snowman has annually enchanted theatre audiences at the Rep, capturing the gentle and poignant spirit of the original picture book. The production has had several revisions. The most extensive happened in the year 2000, when major changes were made to the second act, including the introduction of two new characters: the beautiful Ice Princess and the villainous Jack Frost.

This new, revamped staging of The Snowman is directed & choreographed by Olivier Award winner Will Tuckett. Anna Fleischle, a multi-award-winning scenic and costume designer, has created the show’s wonderful winter scenes and extravagant costumes, with Tahra Zafar, best known for designing the Paddington Bear puppets, being responsible for bringing to life The Snowman, who is now able to blink, smile and express emotions while dancing. The role of the boy - now played by a dancer rather than an actor - is shared by four performers: Tate, Felix, Jake and Tristan. Last night it was Tate’s turn to play the part, and he did so brilliantly.

Watch with wonder as the boy builds a snowman, who magically comes to life! Marvel as their unlikely friendship develops and an unforgettable adventure begins. Listen to the delighted giggles from the children in the audience as The Snowman changes his satsuma nose for a variety of different fruits. Sit on the edge of your seat during a precarious motorbike journey for the boy and The Snowman. Then, at last, the moment you’ve been waiting for arrives, as the pair undertake their starry-skied journey to the North Pole. This particular scene quite literally brought a lump to my throat, as hand-in-hand they flew high over the stage at the end of act one. The use of video designs created an absolutely amazing three dimensional effect.

In the second act, snow people travel to the North Pole to attend a festive gathering, partying with other snowmen and snow-women from around the world, as well as meeting Father Christmas, who is pleasingly reimagined as a sleek and athletic-looking classical dancer! The mischievous and high-energy Jack Frost, meanwhile, is played by a naughty pair of siblings, who feature in beautifully choreographed dance sequences with Father Christmas. Throughout the show, look out for the magnificent puppets brought to life on stage. From the family cat to the lifesize reindeers pulling Father Christmas’ sleigh, they quietly observe the adventure as it unfolds.

This magical, family-friendly festive extravaganza features live musicians rather than a recorded soundtrack, which greatly adds to its charm. While it’s recommended for children over four years of age and makes for a fabulous introduction to live theatre, the show nevertheless has a broad multi-generational appeal - it’s a real treat, whatever your time of life. Catch it before it bids farewell to the Midlands on Sunday.

Five Stars

The Snowman was reviewed by Sue Hull on Thursday 29 October at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, where it shows until Sunday 1 November