'a tale of determination with plenty of magic'
(Hertfordshire Mercury, 2022)
​'heartwarming and magical'
(Mum's Guide to Hertford, 2022)
​What can unite the grumpy town of Thawmor this winter?

Legends tell of soft white snow that blankets the ground, and inventor Eira is determined to bring it back.
​
Join her madcap adventure and get lost in a world of breathtaking puppetry, live folk music, and captivating storytelling that will enthral the whole family this winter.​
​Recommended for Ages 4+ | Running time approx. 1 hour

'a captivating explosion of joy'
(Mum's Guide to Hertford, 2022)

​
​Supported by Arts Council England and Hertford Theatre.

Creative Team

​Initial Devising Creative Team (2022):

Director, Designer & Story: Peter Morton
Writer: Henry Madd
Dramaturg & Director: Emma Willatts 
Producer: Robin Hatcher
Songwriter & Performer: Amelia Gabriel
Musician & Music Production: Marc Pell

Performer: Jamahyl Chan-Ellis
​Performer: Louisa Ashton
Stage Manager & Performer: Rori Endersby
Understudy: Darcey O'Rourke
Costume Design: Lidia Witts
Lighting Designer: Claire Childs
Workshop Assistants: Nick Willis, Hatty Edwards, Ellyn Hebron & Jo Morton
Carpentry: William Aubrey Jones
Illustrations: Greg Stobbs
Re-work and Touring Team 2023:

Co-Director, Designer & Story: Peter Morton​
Co-Director: Rori Endersby
Dramaturg & Director: Emma Willatts 
Writer: Henry Madd
Songwriter & Performer: Amelia Gabriel
Musician & Music Production: Marc Pell
Performer: Jamahyl Chan-Ellis
​Performer: Dorthea Darby
Costume Design: Lidia Witts
Lighting Design: Claire Childs
Workshop Assistant: Hatty Edwards

Re-mount and Touring Team 2024:

Co-Director: Peter Morton​
Co-Director: Rori Endersby
Dramaturg: Emma Willatts 
Songwriter & Performer: Amelia Gabriel
Performer: Jamahyl Chan-Ellis
​Performer: Dorthea Darby
Storyteller Costume Re-Design: Amy Mitchell

Meet the 2024/25 Cast


​JAMAHYL CHAN-ELLIS​

Jamahyl Chan-Ellis was raised in South London where he attended the Brit School for Performing Arts. Since graduating from the University for Creative Arts he devised and toured The Grenfell Project with his own theatre company. He has since appeared at the National Theatre in Small Island and BBC Three series Grime Kids due to release later this year.

​He now returns for a second time to the Half a String company for The Snowsmith.


​DORTHEA DARBY

Dorthea is a Jamaican born British actor, who has spent time training in Long Beach, California. Since beginning her career after graduating from the University of Kent, she has been making her way through the theatre world and the screen world. She has recently returned from touring a family show in Sheffield, and after completing both seasons 4 and 5 of the corporate series ‘The Inside man’ she has been asked to return for season 6.

​When not performing Dorthea enjoys fitness training as well as writing and performing spoken word poetry, she recently completed her first performance as a featured artist at the ‘write2speak’ monthly poetry night. Alongside this she plays a selection of instruments and sings. With a goal of being able to perform her own stunts and become the next on screen Superhero. Dorthea has also picked up tumbling classes to improve her physical performance language.


​​AMELIA GABRIEL

Amelia trained at The Royal Academy of Music in Musical Theatre after gaining a degree in English from the University of Oxford. Theatre credits include: The Lord of the Rings (Watermill Theatre); To the Moon and Back: a sensory show for young audiences labelled with PMLD (Concrete Youth); The Miraculous Misadventures of Robin Hood (Trinity Theatre); The Marriage of Kim K (Arcola Theatre); and, with Half a String: Under the Frozen Moon and The Snowsmith. 

​When not performing, she spends her time wild swimming and knitting (deliberately) ugly jumpers. 

Buy The Snowsmith Storybook Now!

The Snowsmith ran at Norwich Theatre from December 6th-17th 2023 and premiered at Ware Drill Hall in 2022 in collaboration with Hertford Theatre.
Environmental Data:

Creation and Development of The Snowsmith, including our 45 show run at the Drill Hall in Ware, December 2022.
Est. Emissions Total: 597.1 kg CO2e
(Calculated from materials, light, sound usage)

Touring of The Snowsmith in 2023, including 21 shows across 17 dates. 
Est. Emissions Total: 1015 kg CO2e
(Calculated from team travel, materials, light, sound usage)

Build your own owl finger puppet

We are giving out owl finger puppet kits at our Snowsmith shows!
Click the link below to see our photo gallery and to find out how to submit your own photos...
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