The Snowman at a glance

Show
The Snowman (new 2026 production)
Venue
Peacock Theatre, West End
Address
Portugal Street, London WC2A 2HT
Nearest station
Holborn
Genre
Family dance theatre with puppetry and live score
Running time
Around 1 hour 30 minutes, including an interval (confirm when booking)
Age guidance
All ages; babies admitted; children aged 2+ need their own ticket
Dates
21 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
Schedule
Tuesday to Sunday, evenings and matinees; times vary over the festive season
Price range
From £22 (typically £22–£90)
Based on
The book by Raymond Briggs; music and libretto by Howard Blake
Director
Will Tuckett (director and choreographer)

Our Take: The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre

4.5
★★★★★

LTH Anticipation Rating

Written by the London Theatre Hub editorial team. Last updated: 26 October 2026. This is an editorial anticipation rating — the new production had not opened in London when we wrote this, and we will review it after it opens.

Why it matters

For a great many London families, The Snowman has been the first show a child ever sees. Birmingham Rep's original production, first staged in 1993, became the capital's longest-running Christmas show through its annual season at Sadler's Wells' Peacock Theatre. In 2026 that production has been retired, and Sadler's Wells and Birmingham Rep have commissioned a completely new one rather than refresh the old staging.

The story is unchanged: a boy builds a snowman, the snowman comes to life at midnight, and the two of them fly through the night sky before morning arrives. There is no dialogue — the storytelling is carried by dance, puppetry and Howard Blake's score, which includes Walking in the Air. What is new is everything you see. The creative team is a strong one, and the production opens in Birmingham before arriving at the Peacock on 21 November.

What Makes It Special

  • A complete rebuild. New direction, choreography, design, puppetry and illusions, rather than a revival of the previous staging.
  • Will Tuckett directs and choreographs. An Olivier Award winner whose credits include Into the Woods at the Royal Opera House and The Nutcracker for the National Ballet of Japan.
  • An award-winning design team. Anna Fleischle (2:22 A Ghost Story, Punch) designs the production; Tahra Zafar, who created the Paddington puppet for the West End, has designed the new Snowman costume.
  • The music families know. Howard Blake's score, including Walking in the Air, stays at the heart of the show.
  • Made for young audiences. Suitable for all ages, wordless, and short enough for small children, with a relaxed performance in the schedule.

You'll love The Snowman if you...

  • Want a gentle first theatre trip for young children
  • Grew up with the book or the animated film
  • Are looking for a Christmas tradition to share across generations
  • Enjoy dance and puppetry more than dialogue-led shows
  • Want to see how a well-known show has been reimagined

It might not be for you if you...

  • Are looking for a big, loud panto with audience participation
  • Want spoken dialogue and songs with lyrics throughout
  • Are booking for older children who have outgrown picture-book stories
  • Are sensitive to flashing lights or strobe effects
  • Want to read reviews of the new staging before booking

Best for

  • Young children
  • First theatre trip
  • Christmas outings
  • Grandparents & grandchildren
  • Dance lovers
  • School holidays

Less suited to older children and teenagers, or anyone wanting a traditional pantomime.

Critical Reception

This is a brand-new production. It premieres at Birmingham Rep in October 2026 before transferring to the Peacock Theatre, and no reviews had been published when we wrote this page. We will add verified critic ratings once they appear.

  • Birmingham Rep 20 Oct – 1 Nov 2026
  • Peacock Theatre 21 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027
  • Reviews To follow

Source: official production announcements from Sadler's Wells and Birmingham Repertory Theatre, 2026.

Everything You Need to Know

What happens in The Snowman?

On a winter's day, a young boy builds a snowman in his garden. At midnight the snowman comes to life, and the boy shows his new friend around the sleeping house.

Walking in the air

The snowman takes the boy on a flight through the night sky to a snowy world far from home — the moment set to Walking in the Air, the best-known piece in Howard Blake's score.

Morning

The friendship lasts one night. The ending, which many people remember from the book and the film, is gentle and bittersweet, and it is part of why the story has endured.

Told without words

Like Raymond Briggs' original picture book, the stage show has no dialogue. Dance, music, puppetry and design carry the story, which makes it easy for very young children to follow.