The recent production of The Snow Queen at The Arc, in Weston Drive, Caterham delighted audiences of all ages and created a festive and fun atmosphere during its run from 22nd-30th December (excluding Christmas Day).

Originally written by Hans Christian Anderson, The Snow Queen tells the story of a young boy named Kai who is lured away from his friends, by the cold-hearted Snow Queen, and his cousin Gerda's journey to rescue him from the Queen's icy clutches. The play was brilliantly written and directed by Artistic Director Beth Wood and created the feeling of community spirit and festive fun.

The main characters' performances were excellent, from the comical Mr and Mrs Raven and the trolls (played by Andrew Edmeads and John Soffe) to the terrifying Snow Queen (played by Hayley Rose), the mysterious enchantress (played by Susy Payne) and the two child heroes Gerda and Kai (played by Mattie and Keir Gilbert-Halladey). The main characters were supported by a talented cast of young actors from local schools and youth theatres, who worked well together to create many memorable scenes such as the highly realistic snowball fight, during which snowballs flew over the heads of the audience.

The fabulous costumes were mainly silver and white to match the set and lighting, creating a perfectly magical and chilling atmosphere. The creepy mood was broken by jokes and hilarity from the dim-witted trolls and the lovable ravens, providing entertainment for everyone.

The Snow Queen was an impressive first production which left the audience feeling festive and looking forward to more productions from The Arc in the New Year.

For more information about activities at The Arc call 01883 330380 or go to www.the-arc-caterham.co.uk.