Residents at Malvern-based Davenham, Perrins House and Bradbury Court, the residential, nursing and dementia care homes which are collectively known as Friends of the Elderly Malvern, and clients from Malvern Day Care which supports people who are living with dementia and a range of age-related conditions; are looking forward to being transported to The Snow Queen’s Ice Palace and enjoying a pre-Christmas pantomime, thanks to Drama Studio London’s talented actors. The London-based Drama Studio London (DSL) is a leading training institution for professional actors which was established over 50 years ago. “This is the fourth year that Phoenix Theatre Collective has produced the DSL students in a touring pantomime,” said Shirley Bradley, Friends of the Elderly’s Head of Day Care Services. “Their past performances have included The Nutcracker, Snow White and, last year the day care clients and residents were taken on a high-seas, swashbuckling journey with Treasure Island.
“The day care clients and care home residents all look forward to the many Christmas activities we have going on during the festive period, but the annual pantomime performance is always top of the list, and they are all excited to see this year’s production of The Snow Queen on 9th December, which is taking place in The Chapel at Davenham, the residential care home at Friends of the Elderly Malvern. All the day care clients and care home residents love the run up to Christmas and what better way to start the Yuletide season and spread magical fairy dust and Christmas Spirit than by watching a traditional pantomime,” added Shirley.
The Snow Queen is the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, which centres on two friends, Kay and Gerda. The story begins with the Snow Queen shattering the Ice Mirror, shards of which pierce Kay’s heart, turning him to ice and imprisoning him within the Snow Queen’s merciless plans. She needs Kay’s innocence to steal the Crystal of Larnia and imprison the sun forever. Her power will be endless in a land frozen, with Kay by her side. She is unstoppable until Kay’s friend, Gerda, sets out on an epic journey to rescue him, meeting friends and danger along the way. When Gerda finds him, she brings the warmth of love and friendship and joy melts his icy heart and they escape home together.
“We are delighted to be performing for the day care clients and care home residents again this year,” said Kirsty Cubberley, the Director and Producer of The Phoenix Collective. “Our pantomime is a new adaptation of the traditional fairy tale which we hope everyone will enjoy. “We always have such a wonderful experience performing at Davenham and are delighted that we are returning with The Snow Queen this year.”
This year’s production is entwined with The Malvern Festival Players and The Coach House Theatre as the script has been given by the Estate of Harriet Demoy, who wrote the original adaptation. “I adapted Harriet’s script and the audience will follow Gerda through the pitfalls and adventures as she tries to save Kay and the world from the clutches of the evil Snow Queen and The Dream Weavers,” continued Kirsty.
“I’m know for sure that all the day care clients and care home residents will have a wonderful, pre-Christmas magical morning watching The Snow Queen,” continued Shirley. “The pantomime story is also a great reminiscing activity. The other day, we were chatting about Hans Christian Andersen and his many fairy tales,” said Dawn Jones, the Activities Coordinator at Davenham. “One resident told me that Mr Andersen wrote the story back in 1844 and another said that the Disney film, Frozen, was actually based on the tale as well. The residents never cease to amaze me.”
“It’s going to be a really Christmassy event for the day care clients and care home residents, I’m sure they will all have a joyous time and it’s a great way to get all our Christmas activities off to a really festive start,” Shirley concluded.
Find out more about Friends of the Elderly Malvern by calling 01905 388 720 or emailing [email protected].