Preview: The Snowman Tour 2019

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We’re now into Autumn, the leaves are starting to fall and therefore I’m declaring it perfectly acceptable to start talking about Christmas! Yaay!

There are certain films and programmes that I always associate with Christmas, however the one that really does top my Christmas TV tree is The Snowman.

The Snowman is an iconic animation based on the book written by Raymond Briggs. The original book has no words and relies purely on imagination and the heartwarming illustrations to bring the story to life! It was turned into a BAFTA award winning animated film in 1982 and introduced us to the now infamous song ‘Walking in the Air’ – bet you sang that didn’t you?

Christmas for me as an 80’s child was very much associated with the annual Channel 4 airing of The Snowman and when I watch it with my boys I am instantly transported back to being that little girl full of excitement and wonder at the magic of it all, and being heartbroken when the snowman melts. Nowadays it is very much part of our Christmas family traditions, we watch it cuddled up together every Christmas Eve before the boys go to bed. Strangely, I always seem to get something in my eye towards the end!

Luckily, this year we will be able to go one better as we have been invited to watch The Snowman LIVE at the beautifully restored Octagon within Buxton Pavilion Gardens.

If like me you are keen to treat your children to one of the most magical Christmas shows around, then you probably need to start thinking about it now to avoid disappointment nearer the time. Tickets are now on sale at venues across the country and are predicted to sell out long before December.

We were also lucky enough to have watched Carrot Productions’ Wallace & Gromit’s Musical Marvels too and the combination of a live orchestra plus an animated family favourite was an absolute winner. Read our review of that performance here. So naturally we are very excited to see The Snowman Tour.

The Snowman experience offers so much more than a viewing of the beloved movie, itself made extra vivid by the presence of live musicians: a professional orchestra and a young soloist performing the famous Walking in the Air song. The programme also includes a second animation, specially commissioned by Carrot Productions.

Audiences will be treated to one of three films:

A Donkey’s Tale: a heart-warming story of Dillon the Donkey, an ordinary donkey with an extraordinary dream that takes him on a journey that will change his life which has been specially written and composed by Daniel Whibley.

The Bear and the Piano: an exclusive animated film based on the award-winning book by David Litchfield with narration recorded by Joanna Lumley and music by Daniel Whibley which has already become a family favourite for the next generation.

The Nutcracker: that most Christmassy of seasonal pieces, brought to life by Tom Scott’s mesmerising animated film.

Reasons which make these Carrot Productions events so popular with parents include:

The orchestra, which is drawn from some of the top musicians in the country, many of whom are members of such orchestras as The Hallé and the BBC Philharmonic.

Every performance features a young soloist local to the area singing the haunting Walking in the Air solo which lies at the heart of the Snowman. Auditions are held in the Autumn, with local Music Hubs and Cathedral Choirmasters helping to find suitable soloists to take up this superb performance opportunity.

It’s a fun introduction to an orchestra for children and allows them to experience the magic of live music Audiences will also get a visit from the organisation’s very own snowman!

Go on, make Christmas that bit more magical this year….

For ticket information and further details of The Snowman tour, which runs from 3rd to 30th December, please visit the Carrot Productions website