T peers out of the window – face pressed up against the glass – and wishes. What if it snowed? T wishes so hard that sometime it hurts. Then one day things start to look just a little bit different….
When Snow Falls followed the adventure of two friends, T and Midge, who explored an enchanting snowy landscape filled with icebergs and polar animals. They were helped on their journey by the amazing, magical spirit, Chill.
This production based on a play of the same name was adapted by the writer so that it could be presented in fully-integrated British Sign Language and English and was the 1st of 6 plays developed in this format by the company and which toured nationally.
Find out more about BSL and English bilingual theatre
You can access the script of this play via the British Library’s MPS Modern Playscripts Collection.
Daryl Beeton was an actor and drama facilitator who worked for Half Moon Theatre before becoming Associate Director at Half Moon Theatre in the early 2000s. He talks about performing in When Snow Falls and then some years later directing a re-written version of the play with integrated British Sign Language. He recalls the effect the use of integrated BSL had upon one young audience member in particular. Interviewed by Toni Tsaera.
Chris Elwell has been the Director of Half Moon Theatre on White Horse Road since 1997. He talks about the impetus for and aesthetic of creating bilingual work in British Sign Language and English. Interviewed by Kavana Joyett.
Designer, Alison Cartledge talks about the process of designing When Snow Falls, a Half Moon Theatre production for children aged 3+ in the early 2000s. Interviewed by Toni Tsaera.
“Magical, moving and fun, ‘When Snow Falls’ is an inspirational production that is accessible to all audiences”
Time Out Critics Choice, Nov 2003