Cast announced for this year's Christmas production, Snow White!

Following the success of The Wind in the Willows last Christmas, Queen’s Hall Hexham and Alnwick Playhouse have once again teamed up to create a festive family show for Northumberland audiences. A magical retelling of the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale, Snow White will premiere in Hexham and is on at the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre and Alnwick Playhouse throughout December.

Adapted by accomplished children’s playwright Nick Lane and directed by Alnwick Playhouse Artistic Director Damian Cruden, Snow White is the classic story of a beautiful princess, jealous stepmother, magic mirror, one poisoned apple and eight dwarves. Yes, eight dwarves. Plus a talking dog, a nasty frog and an exploding chicken in a production promising magic, mayhem, ridiculous rhymes, silly songs and more little beards than you can shake a stick at.

Katy Taylor, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Queen’s Hall Arts says, “We’re excited to welcome families to the Queen’s Hall this Christmas with a magical retelling of a classic Brothers Grimm fairytale. Through our Theatre Tickets Fund, every £10 donated makes it possible for a local child to see the show. Last year’s fund supported over 200 children to see The Wind in the Willows, and this year we’re especially delighted to be able to offer free tickets on Saturday 9 December as a special thank you to emergency services staff who work incredibly hard to look after us all over the Christmas period and throughout the year.”

The cast are Harry Brierley who grew up in Alnwick and returns to the theatre he first performed at aged 16. Harry played Ratty in Alnwick Playhouse’s The Wind in the Willows which was also performed at the Alnwick Garden and his acting credits include Romeo in Sunderland Shakespeare Festival’s Romeo and Juliet and Miss Magic at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Natasha Biggs will play Snow White. A graduate of the prestigious E15 Acting School, she is also the founder of Banana School Collective, an international theatre collective based in London. 

Alnwick Playhouse Artistic Director Damien Cruden said, “I'm delighted to be working with Harry again, his Ratty in The Wind in The Willows was a joy. I've not worked with Natasha before but she has a wicked sense of humour, and our brilliant cast of two will bring a whole host of characters to life. We are all looking forward to a great time in rehearsals and a fantastic show for all the families in Hexham and Alnwick.”

Adapted from the Brothers Grimm story by Nick Lane. His credits include A Christmas Carol, Beauty & The Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Snow Queen (Hull Truck Theatre); Pinocchio, A Scarborough Christmas Carol and Alice in Wonderland (SJT); Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood (York Theatre Royal); and Hansel & Gretel (Pilot Theatre). His original work for children includes Ginger Jones and the Sultan’s Eye (Polka/ Drum Theatre Plymouth/ York Theatre Royal), ‘Twas the Night before Christmas, When Santa Got Stuck in the Fridge and A Christmas Fairytale (Hull Truck Theatre).

The creative team includes Director Damian Cruden (The Railway Children/The National Railway Museum andThe Wind in the Willows/Queen’s Hall Arts & Alnwick Playhouse), and Composer & Musical Director Tristan Parkes - a musical director on the Beijing and London Olympic Games, Tristan’s theatre credits include more than 15 productions for Hull Truck Theatre, Frankenstein Revelations for York Theatre Royal, and #HashtagLightie for Arcola Theatre written and directed by Lynette Linton. The production will be sustainably staged on a simple set which allows the show to be on at both venues simultaneously.

Snow White is suitable for children aged 4+ and runs at Queen's Hall from 9-31 December. Tickets start from £12 and there are relaxed and British Sign Language Interpreted performances. Donations to the Theatre Ticket Fund can be made online or at the box office. Book Free Emergency Service staff tickets for 9 December at the box office or by phone, subject to availability.

For more information and to book tickets, click here.