There’s something wonderfully uplifting about seeing your local theatre company take on a show as ambitious as Disney’s Frozen, and they absolutely rose to the challenge. From the very first scene, it was clear just how much care, hard work, and talent had gone into bringing Arendelle to life on stage.
Visually, the show was full of magic. The costumes, lighting, and staging all combined beautifully to create that instantly recognisable Disney atmosphere, while still feeling fresh and personal to the company performing it. There were moments of genuine spectacle throughout the evening, but what really made the production shine was the warmth and heart at the centre of it.
Annabel Nash gave a terrific performance as Elsa, capturing both the character’s vulnerability and strength with great confidence. Her vocals were outstanding throughout the evening, particularly during “Let It Go,” which deservedly received huge applause from the audience.
Alongside her, Lucy Hunt was a delightful Anna — full of warmth, humour, energy, and charm. The chemistry between the two leads worked beautifully and gave the story its emotional core. Their relationship felt believable from start to finish, making the quieter moments just as effective as the big musical numbers.
Ben Francis brought an easy likeability to Kristoff, while Chloe Regester’s Sven was full of personality and provided plenty of fun throughout the evening. Luke Morgan was a real audience favourite as Olaf, delivering excellent comic timing and bringing lots of laughter from both children and adults alike. The puppetry undertaken by these two cast members was extraordinary, to the point I forgot at times their characters were puppets!
Thomas Semmons handled the role of Hans very well, balancing charm with the darker side of the character as the story unfolded. Trevor Key clearly enjoyed every moment as the Duke of Weselton, bringing plenty of humour and character to the role, while Michael Silvester and Theresa May gave warmth and dignity to King Agnarr and Queen Iduna.
Special mention should also go to Caitlin Tuck and Isabella Andersbjork as Young Elsa and Young Anna, who opened the show beautifully and immediately drew the audience into the sisters’ story. Alex Chidichimo and Victoria Perryman were excellent as Pabbie and Bulda, adding both heart and humour to the world of the Hidden Folk, while Tom Bailey’s Oaken was another standout comic performance that the audience clearly loved.
The ensemble as a whole deserve enormous credit too. The energy never dropped throughout the performance, and the larger company numbers were full of life and enthusiasm. Musically, the show sounded excellent throughout under the direction of Joanna Kemp, whose work with the cast and the live band ensured the score had both power and warmth, while always supporting the storytelling on stage.
Directors Paula Graver and Ben Francis also deserve huge praise for the way they handled such a technically ambitious production. The show moved at a lovely pace, balancing the spectacular moments with the quieter emotional scenes, and it always felt full of life, colour, and confidence. It was clear they had a strong vision behind the production, but also a genuine affection for both the story and the people performing it.
Productions of this scale also rely heavily on the work done behind the scenes, and Nick and his backstage crew deserve enormous credit for the smooth running of such a complex show, with set design, scene changes and technical elements handled seamlessly throughout the evening. Martin and his Front of House team also played their part in creating such a welcoming atmosphere from the moment audiences arrived at the theatre.
What really stayed with me after the final curtain, though, was the atmosphere in the theatre itself. There was laughter, applause, excited children, proud parents, relatives and friends, and that lovely shared sense of community that Fadlos does so well. Productions like this remind us just how much talent exists in Fadlos and how much joy live theatre can bring.
This was a hugely enjoyable evening and a production the entire company should feel incredibly proud of.
Andy Grout – 14th May 2026
