Garreth Spillane, Head of Communications at the Festival office, writes from Wellington:

Having been working on the Festival and marketing the Solid Energy Season of SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW for four months now, I have to admit that SLAVA fatigue was beginning to set in. This morning however I sat in the St James Theatre and managed to be blown away by this fabulous show.

I am here with Christopher Moore from The Press, along with a host of other journalists, TV crews and photographers, for the media call for the New Zealand tour.

In this morning’s media call we only saw 2 scenes from the show – the playful Blue Canary scene and the show’s spectacular finale. Without wanting to give too much away – the Blue Canary scene is a gorgeous piece of physical theatre that will leave you chuckling, whilst the finale will blow you away (I still can’t believe it!). It is so amazing a feat of theatrical magic that I cannot wait to see it again.

One of the most special moments was in between these scenes where members of the company play around on the stage, and out ran a little bundle of energy who instigated an impromptu snow fight. This little dark-haired girl is Mia, the granddaughter of SLAVA, on tour with her father (who is the production manager for SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW).

I have written quite a few times now in print and radio ads the words "don’t miss this", and I hope you won’t. SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW is a work of magic that will enrich its audience – it celebrates humanity and theatricality and the wonder of what can be done when a simple idea is executed perfectly. Please, don’t miss it!