Ad disclosure: We were provided with press tickets for the purpose of this post.
It’s hard to put into words the show James & I attended at the Alexandra last night, but I can assure you we left the theatre having thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Slava’s Snow Show is a Russian “performance of fools,” featuring a troupe of peculiar clowns who take to the stage to entertain and bewilder the audience in equal measure.
With no discernible storyline, the show unfolds as a series of unusual and surreal scenes that flow into one another almost seamlessly. With no spoken words throughout, the entire experience is set to a soundtrack of classical, dramatic, and atmospheric music, interspersed with clown gibberish and perfectly timed sound effects.
While recommended for ages 8 and up, I could see some parts being a bit too strange or unnerving for younger audiences. However, I believe there are people of all ages who wouldn’t enjoy the experience – it’s definitely one of those things that comes down to personal taste. James and I, on the other hand, were completely swept up in the bizarre and wonderful world brought to life by Slava’s characteristic clowns.
The clowns are incredibly skilled at expressing themselves through body language and facial expressions, conveying a wide range of emotions through their carefully choreographed movements. I found myself feeling the main character’s loneliness, delight, confusion, and more right alongside him as he moved around the stage.
These aren’t your typical circus clowns, either. The main figure — a yellow and red-clad clown with a droopy nose and smudged face paint — is surrounded by a group of strange yet cohesive characters in long green coats and absurd hats, each bringing something unique to the stage.
With masterful comedic timing and clever use of odd props and interactive scenery, the clowns interact with each other and the audience entirely through their movements, gestures, and faces. The front rows of the stalls were particularly drawn into the action — so maybe avoid those seats if you’re not a fan of having confetti swept into your face!
This interaction even continues during the ‘interval’. While the main character takes a break, the rest of the strange troupe descend from the stage to “terrorise” the audience with water and confetti.
What follows is several minutes of pure chaos as they take turns playing at being conductors at a symphony, with the theatre-goers as the orchestra and their voices as the instruments. Each clown has a distinct character that becomes evident throughout the show, and this interlude allowed those personalities to shine through, from timid to bossy, mournful to flamboyant, creating a hilarious and oddly endearing scene.
It was, needless to say, absolutely hilarious at times, despite its more emotional moments. Clowns are meant to be funny, after all – and this troupe certainly doesn’t disappoint.
The audience was in stitches for most of the show, and I laughed so hard I ended up being that person who sets themselves off coughing from laughter (not ideal when you’re still recovering from a cold!).
The finale is fantastically dramatic. Both the clown on stage and the audience are blasted with a blizzard of confetti, as he stands defiantly amidst the storm. A quick round of bows follows, and then the fun continues for another 20 minutes of pure, joyous chaos — giant inflatable balls and balloons flying through the crowd, bubbles drifting through the air, and everyone caught up in the energy of it all as the troupe continue their antics on stage.
All in all, Slava’s Snow Show was one of the most delightfully strange and memorable theatre experiences I’ve ever had. It’s weird, it’s beautiful, it’s funny, and at times it’s even unexpectedly moving.
You never quite know what’s coming next – and that’s exactly what makes it so special. As the final snowstorm settled and the last of the giant balloons bounced their way through the audience, James and I left the theatre with smiles on our faces. It’s the kind of show that reminds you what it feels like to be a kid again – swept up in pure imagination, laughter, and wonder.
Dating back to 1993 when Slava Polunin first debuted the show in Moscow, Slava’s Snow Show has gone on to entertain people in over 40 countries and won multiple awards doing so. It’s not hard to see why it has been so successful, and it is certainly worth catching while it’s in town.
Slava’s Snow Show is on at the Alexandra until Saturday 15th November 2025, before continuing on with the tour through the UK & beyond.
The show lasts around 1 hour 40 minutes, including the 20 minute interval. The recommended age range is 8 years +, with under 3s being strictly prohibited. Tickets are available from the ATG website from just £15.
