An old man goes to see a psychiatrist in Switzerland complaining of deep depression. The psychiatrist tells him to go see Grock, the greatest and funniest clown in all of Switzerland. No one could see Grock and not come away delighted, entertained and inspired, he says. Grock takes all the worries off us for a few hours every night, he says. The old man looks up with sad eyes and softly says, “But I am Grock!”
Clowns have hopped, bounced, bo-inged, flipped and prat-fell around the edges of show biz for centuries. Every era has its clown. Shakespeare had Will Kempe, during the regency period we had Joseph Grimaldi and today we have Slava Polunin who, though now 75, brings us an astounding piece of theatrical wonder which has been delighting audiences since 2009. Slava says “…One day I realised that I wanted to create a show that would take us back to our childhood dreams; A show which would help spectators be released from the jail of adulthood and rediscover their forgotten childhood.” I can think of no better encapsulation of the show than these few words. Some think clowns are scary, some think them archaic, but Slava’s creation blows all those thoughts for our minds.
A yellow clad figure with a red scarf slowly, slowly tramps on stage dragging behind him a noose. A dark, Godotesque opening which within seconds modulates into a bright and engaging skit between the yellow figure who was once played by Slava and the tall green, wide hatted figures. We have no names, we don’t need them they talk to us without words. They are not characters as we know them but cyphers for dreams and notions, whisps of ideas and fragments of imaginings. That’s where we are – a dreamscape of child-like (not childish) wonders where innocent figures encounter delights, wonders and occasional threats delivering a fully-honed world in its own right.
Slava has created a place of joy, fun and happiness. A massive playpen for our tired minds. Bright, primary coloured sets and characters stumble and tumble through comic incidents some of which reach gigglesome heights of ecstasy. Each performer gives us a beautifully silly, daft and barmy role in a show which explodes with effects, smokes, music and sounds culminating in one of the most outstanding moments I’ve witnessed in a theatre.
“Slava’s Snowshow” is an warm oasis of soft, welcoming happiness in a mad, bad world which everyone should visit at least once in their lives. Do your soul a favour and see a kind clown.
Reviewer: Peter Kinnock
Reviewed: 12th November 2025
North West End UK Rating:
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