Review: Snowy — The Studio Theatre, Edinburgh

---

One of three new Scottish productions brought to stage as part of Eden Court Highlands, Aberdeen Performing Arts and Capital Theatres’ Wee Ones Winter Commissions, Snowy reunites the CATS-Award-winning team of Directors & Creators Ross Mackay, Jordan Blackwood and Scottish Theatre Producers’ Sarah Gray.

It tells the tale of Snowy the dog, a free-roaming resident of a sleepy wee town, as she attempts to negotiate the consequences of playing in the snow.

You’d think that nothing all that bad ever came of making a snowball, but then you probably haven’t done so on top of a mountain overlooking your home and set it rolling downhill to grow and grow and grow…

It falls to performers Stephanie MacGaraidh and Peter Collins to bring the tale to life, the former creating the town’s various residents, from Snowy’s owner to the local farmer and lolly-pop man, whilst MacGaraidh expertly pilots Fergus Dunnet’s adorable canine puppet. They do so amongst Valerie Reed’s suitably white, storybook-esque set, complete with illuminated village on a hill behind, and with their adventures soundtracked by Bethany Tennick’s chirpy yet laid-back soundtrack.

It’s a cute affair, squarely aimed at younger audiences as Snowy helps the postie put the right-shaped parcels through similarly shaped letterboxes, or attempts to lick the broken edges of a broken sledge in an attempt to stick it back together. It’s all part of a straightforward story, beginning with Snowy meeting everyone, taking to the heights to make the fateful ball, and then meeting everyone again as it wreaks havoc on the way down.

The miniature backdrop is a particularly inventive touch, but the promise of immersion—like the clever mirroring of snow on the model and our furry hero—remains unfulfilled as the show progresses.

Nevertheless, MacGaraidh does well to inject character into the puppy, who charms the munchkins in the front row between scenes with a mix of friendly wee barks and wagging tail. Collins might not make each of his characters all that different from one another, but he’s still tireless as he negotiates the many hats he must wear.

There’s also some delightful recorded narration thanks to Niamh Gallagher-Brown, Betsy Trivett, and Nylah McClymont, P1 from Tollcross Primary School.

The show’s themes of dealing with mistakes, doing our best to fix them, taking accountability, and making the most of the fallout are certainly clear when the snowball is finally stopped. All of this within 40, rather than the listed 50 minutes, without it feeling the least bit rushed. There’s insufficient depth to the story to support more, but that lack of sophistication will probably leave older kids underwhelmed by a show that eschews the ‘wonder’ factor in favour of something closer to friendly daytime TV for little ones.

All Images: Andrew Perry

---

---

Snowy will play the Studio, Edinburgh, until December the 31st, 2025. For tickets and more information, click here.

---