Frozen

Upon hearing that Centenary Theatre Company had acquired the rights to perform Disney’s Frozen, I was very interested to see what they would bring to their production. With the film and West End musical being so iconic and such big hits, this had to be executed well to meet the expectations of their audiences. I can say with certainty that Centenary absolutely understood the brief and the size of the production they were faced with.

At the helm as Director was Dan Grimes, assisted by Jessica Bridge. The pair have absolutely put their heart and souls into this production, and it paid off on stage. Throughout the show, the storytelling was second to none. It can be easy with such a well-known story to let this slide (on the assumption everyone knows what will happen), however they ensured scenes flowed well together and that the cast were consistently performing in character and with conviction which helped to carry the story along. The blocking and staging throughout were excellent, all sight lines were clear and had been taken into consideration. This production came with its own heart and personality while still staying true to the iconic Disney magic from the film, both through the characters brought to life in front of the audiences and from the overall aesthetics delivered.

Eleanor Jardine choreographed the show, assisted by Danielle Segar, and what a fantastic job they did. They managed to find just the right level of movement and dance to enhance the numbers. I would love to pick out a particular highlight, but each number was just as strong as the next! Peppered with elegance throughout, the choreography perfectly matched the tone of the show, with shapes and formations brilliantly created and well executed by the cast. There was not a weak link in the cast when it came to the movement within the show, all performed with precision.

Rounding out the production team was Simon Pickup as Musical Director, assisted by Nick Gregory-Beckwith. Under their direction, the cast sounded stunning! The harmonies were consistently beautiful from the principals, but even more so from the ensemble, creating such a powerful sound in the larger numbers. This production team have clearly worked very hard to bring their visions to life, both in their individual principles and for the overall sound, look and feel of the show. Well done to all!

Most of the scenes were set using projections across the back of the stage, with the addition of some pieces of set brought on for specific scenes to add some depth and points for the cast to interact with. This helped to keep the show flowing as there was no need to pause for set changes. The imagery used was very high quality and helped to boost the production value. Lighting throughout the show really complimented the backdrops being used, creating some stunning images and effects. The use of cool tones was a lovely touch to add to the eternal winter within the show. Unfortunately, the sound elements were not quite as strong. There were a lot of issues with cues with the cast microphones meaning they were not heard until halfway through their lines (or sometimes not at all). However, the overall sound balancing and timing of the tracks were spot on.

Costumes in the show were one of the standout elements for me, they looked spectacular! They were perfect for the show, not copied directly from the film but still with a strong influence. The colour palette used for the costumes was great and really added depth to the aesthetics of the production.

Whenever you hear the word Frozen, you think of Elsa (well, I do). Such an iconic role with one of the most recognisable songs from the last 15 years. Lydia Ann Foxley took on the role with ease. She WAS Elsa – the perfect princess, always holding herself like a Queen. Delivering knockout vocals with extreme clarity in every word, Lydia was an absolute powerhouse. All reactions were spot on, and she played the vulnerability of the role beautifully. “Monster” and “Let It Go” were truly showstopping moments. This was an outstanding performance from Lydia.

Alongside Lydia was Kirstin Dunn in the role of Anna. Arguably just as iconic but for different reasons. Anna is seen as the more fun loving of the two sisters and Kirstin really brought this element of the character to life. She was bursting at the seams with energy from the moment she stepped foot on stage, never letting it drop for a second. The relationship between Hans and Anna was completely believable, she appeared so doting and head-over-heels in love with him. Kirstin displayed emotions as the heartbroken sister beautifully, while still giving some hilarious moment throughout. An excellent performance from Kirstin with brilliant vocals and showcasing excellent dance skills.

In the role of Hans was Josh Leech who played the perfect nice guy turned villain. If the audience didn’t already know the story, they would have had no idea of the twist in store later in the show. He had the audience well and truly fooled. Josh played against Kirstin as Anna really well, they bounced off each other and formed a perfect couple. I must also give recognition to Josh’s killer vocals – what a powerhouse! The lovable Kristoff was played by Joel Merry. Joel played the perfect gentleman throughout and gave some stunning vocals. His character development and relationship built with Anna was so lovely to watch. He was so likeable on stage and had the audience on side from the start.

Would it really be Frozen without a snowman?! Dean Callow expertly brought Olaf to life in front of our eyes – he was perfectly cast in this role. His puppet work was very impressive, and his own facial reactions were hilarious throughout. He delivered some brilliant vocals and comedy moments. A highlight of mine was “In Summer” – this was very well performed and sounded great! Simon Pickup put down his MD hat and picked up the part of Weselton. He had a great stage presence and had the audience laughing in all the right places. Joey Harrison took on the role of Oaken, but unfortunately the accent just wasn’t quite there. A lot of the dialogue and song were lost as the audience couldn’t understand what was being said/sung. This was a shame as Joey performed with such high energy and brilliant facial expressions.

Pabbie and Bulda were played by Andrew Dunn and Clare Grimes (respectively). The pair worked really well together showing constant commitment to their roles and some amazing physicality. Katelyn Pratt was Young Elsa for the show I attended, and she played the part very well. Giving clear vocals, great expressions and performing with lots of energy. Our Young Anna for the evening was Arabella Coles who was an absolute superstar. The energy and passion that this young performer put into the role was highly commendable, truly bringing the childlike joy to the forefront of the show.

I must give special mention to Klaudia Kirkpatrick who performed as Sven the Reindeer. This was some professional level puppetry work, bringing a beloved character to life. Well done, Klaudia!

The ensemble really enhanced all aspects of the production, with brilliantly executed harmonies and choreography. Every single cast member appeared to be enjoying each moment of the show and had obviously worked hard to bring this to the stage. Everyone was fully committed to their roles and in character for the duration. Well done to all!

This was a spectacular show, from the production team bringing their visions to life, to the cast who all performed extremely well. Despite a few technical hiccups, this production was put together wonderfully and treated audiences to some true Disney magic. You could tell just how much the audiences loved it from the smiles on their faces throughout. A massive well done to Centenary Theatre Company for their efforts on putting on such a massive show. Thanks go to CTC for their invite to the show and their kind hospitality. I wish them the best of luck with their next production, Cluedo, to be performed in September 2026.

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