We set off early for our outing to The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre in Holborn with fingers crossed that Freddie wouldn’t have a meltdown due to the lack of sleep we had all had the night before. Another story for another time...
We needn’t have worried as his favourite thing ever – Trains! – set him off in high spirits, the train was on time too which helped!
We arrived at the theatre and after purchasing a flashing snowman made our way to our fantastic seats in the 3rd row of the stalls , but I would think most seats would be good as the Peacock Theatre is quite intimate as far as London theatres go.
The show opens with a wonderful curtain of snow and the young boy, James, waking in his bed – the story that follows is both magical and festive and, much to the surprise of my hubby, had every child and adult in the house transfixed for an hr and 50 minutes, from toddlers to grannies and grandpas.
The music, costumes, stage and choreography is perfect and what you would expect from a production linked to Sadler's Wells and offered clever distractions throughout the show for any toddlers or youngsters who might have been bored.
Many fantastic characters join James and The Snowman on their adventure to the North Pole including dancing foxes, badgers, rabbits, more snowmen, Jack Frost and of course Father Christmas.
Freddie hasn't stopped asking to see ‘the boy’ again even though we keep telling him the show is called ‘The Snow Man’ which just shows how powerful a production can be when the only non costumed character sticks in a 2 year olds head!
A must for families wanting to share a little bit of warmth at Christmas we loved it!
For more details and tickets visit the Salder's Wells website
The Enchanted Christmas House is located in the London Art House in Islington. This magical wonderland offers children from 18months to 9 years + a festive treat to remember.
Our visit was booked for 10.30 and Freddie was very excited to be meeting Father Christmas to ask him for a “choo choo twain and tea pot” but when he actually came face to face with the man in red it was a different story...
Once you arrive you are taken through to the Garden of Winter Wonder, an area full of Christmas trees and fairy lights with various areas for imaginative play including; a puppet theatre, a mini bouncy castle, the seaside, karaoke, drums and an area with lots of role play toys such as a dolls house, cooker, .....
Freddie could have spent hours here! Video here: Snow not included!
The show begins on a small stage and offers a theatrical experience from here on with a host of Christmassy characters from Mrs Christmas, Father Christmas and his elves to Aladdin and a rubber duck! These characters and more appear from time to time throughout the rest of the journey.
The first room we were taken to was the Elves Workshop where Freddie made a Christmas tree and other festive decorations, at one point a large white rabbit entered the room and Freddie was for the first time ever not scared of a person in a furry suit! He enjoyed the renditions of Sleeping Bunnies especially when the giant bunny went to sleep right next to him!
Soon we were off to the Gingerbread kitchen, a wonderfully decorated room with enormous sweets and candies adorning the ceilings and walls. Freddie just had to decorate two gingerbread men with coloured icing, balls and sweets and half way through this was summoned to Santa...
We shot down the stairs with Mrs Claus and as we arrived Freddie stopped in his tracks, Santa sat in a wonderful grotto surrounded by lots of presents and snow but Freddie froze. All of his words had disappeared and he wouldn’t go within 4 feet of Father Christmas! Father Christmas took it all in his stride and chatted away and gave an early pressie to Freddie. His first meeting with Santa was a memorable one even if it didn’t go according to plan!
Back to the Gingerbread Kitchen for a few more songs and fun and then we ventured off to Aladdin’s Cave singing a “walking, running, hopping, stopping” song along the way. Freddie began to loosen up and sing and hop along too... However, in Aladdin’s cave he spied the Duplo and that was it! He did join in the treasure hunt briefly but the theatrical experience had left the building for him as his second favourite toy was on offer! Every other child in the room joined in the fun as Aladdin summoned up a variety of characters by rubbing his lamp...
So to the finale and a mini stage show featuring all the characters from the day along with some new characters with songs, dancing and lots of audience participation which our little chap thoroughly enjoyed along with every other child!
After 2 1/2 hours of fun everyone was offered some food which included meatballs, pasta, houmos, carrot sticks, pitta bread, very yummy cakes, chocolate and satsumas with a variety of drinks including water, juices, tea, coffee and a mulled wine which was actually rather good!
The venue is ideal for an enchanted festive treat with each room wonderfully decorated. The staff were very friendly and attentive and the acting was good too.
We had a great time but now for the crunch, a ticket will set you back £49 per person with a family of four ticket costing £159 (a saving of £37) and under 18 months go free. Is it worth it? There are certainly a lot of hands needed to make the event work so I can see where the cost goes and £49 for the little ones is definitely worth its ticket price – the question is whether the price tag is justified for the adults, probably not and so I would suggest to get more for your money go take a couple of kids along with one adult rather than a couple of adults to a child.
Since writing this the Enchanted House people are offering half price tickets to adults of for 3rd and 4th December...
Cost aside the whole experience was fantastic for children and every child in the place had a wonderful time. Freddie fell asleep on the way home clinging to his present from Father Christmas the whole way...
We visited the Hertford Christmas Gala last night and as we approached Fore Street it was nice to feel a little buzz coming from the town. Unfortunately there were very few market stalls with the 'token flashing light gadget stalls' almost over shadowing but those that were there were worth visiting. The big boys M&S were offering mulled wine and mince pies and local businesses included Foxholes Farm, a stall selling children's wooden toys and a nice little silver jewellery stall Jemima's Jewels run by a Hertford mum. You can find her on Bishops Stortford market on Saturday's or soon to be on line at http://www.jemimasjewels.com/.
The kids really enjoyed the festivities and games taking place on the stage and this years Hertford theatre panto characters introduced themselves to the crowds, much to little Freddie's terror, he really doesn't seem to like people dressed in wild outfits!
Hertford went without a Christmas gala in 2009 due to the credit crunch as local shops and groups did not have the funds needed, 2010 at least was heading in the right direction, fingers crossed that 2011 will be even bigger and better!
