Slava’s SnowShow – Review – Bradford Live
By Graham Clark, November 2025
The brainchild of the Russian clown Slava Polunin, Slava’s SnowShow arrived at Bradford Live as part of a nationwide tour.
Thirty-two years after its inception and with thousands of performances, which have seen it shine everywhere from Beijing to Bogotá, the touring troupe of clowns honour old-school clowning traditions with expressive mannerisms – all without any dialogue, with a pronounced mime element and the wit and emotion conveyed via movement set to music.
The sound of a steam train clanking away, dispersed by the occasional hoot, could be heard around the Bradford Live auditorium as the audience took their seats. The atmosphere had been set, imaginations were about to be put to the test and a voyage of discovery, fun and theatrical brilliance was about to begin.
image: Veronique Vial
“Spectacular”
Now run by Slava’s son, Vanya, this is a show where anything can happen – and it does! The production is set within an absurd and surrealistic world of ‘fools on the loose’, a work of art in which each scene paints a picture: an unlikely shark swimming in a misty sea; clowns and the audience tangled up in a gigantic spider’s web; heartbreaking goodbyes with a coat rack on a railway platform; audience members hypnotised by giant balloons; and a dramatic finale where it would be rude to spoil the surprise that awaits audiences – the clue, though, lies in the title of this spectacular production.
In an extremely interactive show, you might be wise not to sit too near the front if you want to avoid getting wet; however, those seated further back will find that they become part of the show. In addition to the fun aspect of Slava’s SnowShow, its enduring success is due to its appeal to all ages and its ability to include everyone. The Bradford audience included families, couples and pensioners – who all left Bradford Live with a smile on their face.
Don’t expect any references to current affairs; instead, the eternal themes of love, loss, fear and hope are all conveyed in a fun yet commanding fashion.
image: Roman Boldyrev
“Warm your heart”
The music itself plays a big part in making the various scenes work as well as they do. From the evocative Vangelis’ Chariots of Fire and the samba rhythms of Jorge Ben Jor’s ‘Mas Que Nada’ to the atmospheric Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14 and dramatic ‘O Fortuna’ from Carmina Burana, the soundtrack was sympathetically employed.
With a running time of around two hours, including the interval, no scene outstayed its welcome – young or old, minds will not wander. As the Bradford audience rightly gave a standing ovation at the end of the evening, it was clear that this is a show that will warm your heart, put a spring in your step and make you feel like Christmas has arrived early. A wonderful delight.
Runs until Sunday 30th November. Tickets are now available with up to 50% off original price from trafalgartickets.com
Top image: Giovanni Daniotti
Graham was born and raised in Keighley. A dedicated live music enthusiast, he has attended hundreds of concerts across the North and feels fortunate to have Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester within easy reach — all key stops on major touring circuits. He has also supported Bradford Live, the upcoming 4,000-capacity venue opening in autumn 2025, helping to secure backing from some of the biggest names in live entertainment. Passionate about food, Graham draws on his background in hospitality to offer honest, experience-led insights in his reviews. He’s also a keen traveller, having explored extensively throughout Europe, America and Asia.
