The Snow Queen

Story

A story told in seven stories. A magic mirror is broken and the shards fly across the world. When splinters from the mirror land in Kay’s eye and heart, he follows the Snow Queen’s sleigh and doesn’t come back. Gerda must go on a journey to find him and bring him home. On the way she encounters a succession of helpers – or hinderers – an enchantress in a flower garden, two gossipy ravens, a band of robbers and a wild robber girl, a nervous reindeer and two mysterious old women. When finally she reaches the Snow Queen’s palace she must battle icy wraiths and solve a timeless puzzle if Kay is ever to be freed.

Why we chose it

The Snow Queen is one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most popular and enduring stories. Who can resist a heroine with the odds stacked against her, two very different villains and the recurring themes of loss and loyalty and endurance?

Where it came from

Hans Christian Andersen was determined to make his living as a writer. By the time he wrote his first children’s story he had already published a number of plays and a novel but it was his fairy tales that brought him success. He wrote The Snow Queen in just 16 days which did lead to some inconsistencies in the plot but the vivid characters, the strong themes of loss and endurance and the sense of wonder and mystery have ensured its continued success.

Where it went next

There have been many adaptations of The Snow Queen for film and television. It has been a popular Christmas choice for a number of theatre companies including Oxford’s Creation Theatre in 2005 and 2019.

The story was first performed as a ballet by California Contemporary Ballet in 1998 and there have since been productions from, among others, the English National Ballet, the Finnish National Ballet and Scottish Ballet.

Associated stories

Hans Christian Anderson wrote 168 fairy tales in his lifetime, including well known classics such as Thumbelina,The Little Mermaid, The Little Match Girl, The Emperor’s New Clothes and The Ugly Duckling.