Frozen

Celebrating 20 years of STAMP, this production of Disney’s Frozen was a wonderful way to mark the occasion. Full of fun, energy, heart and clear dedication from everyone involved, it showcased the talent and hard work that has clearly been built over the company’s two decades.

Frozen tells the story of sisters Anna and Elsa as they navigate love, loss, family expectations and self-discovery in the kingdom of Arendelle. With memorable songs, magical moments and themes of acceptance and sisterhood, it remains a much-loved Disney favourite.

Musically, this production was outstanding. The vocals throughout were exceptional, not only in the many impressive solo performances but also within the ensemble work. Choral numbers such as Vuelie were beautifully delivered and created some truly atmospheric moments. Congratulations to Musical Director Christopher Perry for achieving such strong vocal performances across the cast.

The choreography was packed with energy, clever tricks and effective stage pictures. The reveals and use of frozen silhouettes were beautifully timed, with every movement feeling purposeful and adding to the storytelling. Lucy Robson should be congratulated on creating routines that were both visually impressive and engaging to watch.

The show opened with Young Elsa and Young Anna, played by Esther Wilson and Yasmin Haq. Both performers brought confidence, character and strong vocals to their roles, setting the pace and tone for the production perfectly.

Aimee Preen, as Queen Iduna, delivered her lines with poise and elegance, while her singing was beautifully performed. Cody Wheatley brought warmth and sincerity to the role of King Agnarr.

Pabbie and Bulda, played by Erin Pettimore and Ruby Kennedy, were very convincing and showed excellent comic timing. Their performance during Fixer Upper was particularly enjoyable and brought great energy to the stage.

Becca Gosling’s Duke of Weselton was wonderfully comedic and performed with confidence throughout. It was also impressive to see her transform seamlessly into company work during ensemble scenes — certainly a performer to watch.

Harvey Johnson gave us everything expected of Prince Hans. His charming portrayal drew the audience in so effectively that it was easy to momentarily forget the character’s true intentions. His vocals were equally impressive and complemented the role beautifully.

Sven was portrayed by Luna Paolucci and Erin Lansdell, who had the challenge of operating the reindeer costume. Both handled this extremely well, and credit should also go to the cast for interacting with Sven as a character rather than focusing on the operators — a skill that is often harder than it appears.

Leonie Reay was a delightful Olaf, combining excellent comic timing with strong puppet manipulation. The use of the puppet alongside confident vocals created a very engaging performance.

Daniel Shilling gave a strong portrayal of Kristoff, bringing good comic timing and solid vocals to the role. His performance made it easy for the audience to support his journey alongside Anna.

Taking on the iconic role of Elsa, Emily Wright certainly did not disappoint. Her vocals were beautiful and paired wonderfully with her strong acting ability. She delivered a believable portrayal of a young woman struggling to understand herself and her place in the world.

The standout performance of the evening, came from Molly Featherstone as Anna.

From the moment Molly stepped onto the stage, she appeared completely at home in the role. Her acting choices were confident and natural, her vocals controlled and expressive, and her energy never faltered. Whether dancing, reacting or singing, Anna remained fully present throughout. It was an outstanding performance and one to be very proud of.

The set design remained simple but effective, with the use of a video wall allowing scenes to transition smoothly and keeping the story moving without disruption. Dan Shilling’s lighting design created several beautiful moments as the narrative unfolded and added greatly to the magical atmosphere.

The costumes also deserve recognition. Alongside the familiar Disney-inspired designs, the Hidden Folk costumes were particularly effective and added another layer of visual interest to the production. Congratulations to the costume team.

Frozen is a story built on magic, love and family, and directors Harvey and Christopher ensured those themes remained at the heart of this production. Elsa’s transformation reveal was beautifully executed, and the inclusion of puppetry highlighted the skill and creativity of the performers.

Overall, this was a fantastic production and a fitting way for STAMP to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The show was entertaining throughout and showcased an impressive amount of talent across cast, crew and creative team alike.

Congratulations to everyone involved on a wonderful achievement.

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