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A heartwarming, joyous spectacle that’ll turn even the most cynical adults back into wide-eyed kids.

Slava Polunin, the Russian-born clown genius behind Slava’s SnowShow, has been a core memory of my childhood.

Growing up in the late 80s in the USSR, entertainment was limited to the radio and the rare vinyl records my mother managed to buy. Occasionally, the black-and-white CRT TV would offer something different—like Litsedei, the mime performance by Slava Polunin. It was a rare highlight, a comic show that offered a full scope of emotions I didn’t quite understand at the time, but I was captivated nonetheless. Those performances hooked me in, offering a glimpse into a world of expression unlike anything else. There was something about the delicate balance of joy and sadness, the subtle gestures that told a story without a single word—those performances stayed with me. The emotions they conveyed didn’t need language to resonate. They just were.

This season, Slava’s SnowShow is lighting up the stage at the Harold Pinter Theatre, and if you’re within reach of London before January 12, it’s an experience you absolutely don’t want to miss. Whether you’re bringing your children, your best friend, or just seeking a reminder of what it feels like to see the world through the eyes of a child again, Slava’s SnowShow delivers a performance that transcends language and age. It’s a show that invites you to reconnect with something pure, something joyful—and trust me, you’ll leave the theatre a little lighter than you were before.

At 74, Slava Polunin’s physicality remains as nimble as ever, though much of the action is carried by his talented ensemble. His character Assisai, the yellow-clad clown, leads us through a series of vignettes—each one a reflection on human emotion, from joy to vulnerability. While Slava himself doesn’t take centre stage as often, his presence is felt in every moment. It is his spirit, his vision, and his ideas that shape the show, guiding the performance even when he is not physically in the spotlight. Polunin communicates volumes without ever speaking, his body movements and facial expressions capturing the essence of what it means to be human: to laugh, to feel sadness, to embrace hope, and to share in moments of connection. It’s a delicate, almost magical dance between absurdity and sincerity that makes this show so moving.

Polunin’s influence on the world of clowning is undeniable. He founded the Academy of Fools and created the Yellow Mill in France, an estate that serves as both a creative laboratory and a home for his whimsical artistry. The Yellow Mill is a place where the absurd and the beautiful meet, it’s a physical manifestation of Polunin’s commitment to the philosophy that art should invite joy, provoke thought, and—above all—connect us to our inner child.

The magic of SnowShow lies in how it reflects this philosophy. One of the most striking moments of Slava’s SnowShow comes when the stage is swallowed by a wild snowstorm that sweeps through the entire theatre. The fake snow, crafted from paper just a little thicker than wrapping paper, descends in a relentless flurry, sharp and unforgiving. You find yourself right in the eye of the storm, unable to escape the blinding light or the swirling, fluttering paper that seems to consume everything in its path. At the centre stands a small clown, exposed and vulnerable, caught in the very heart of it all. The elements batter him, but he endures, and in that moment, you can’t help but endure with him. It’s a raw, unfiltered experience—the kind that forces you to confront the storm of emotions and share in its intensity, as though you are one with the chaos and the quiet suffering of the clown.


After the raw emotional intensity of the snowstorm, the show leads into its finale—a moment just as powerful, but filled with joy. The giant inflatable balls begin on stage, and the clowns push them into the crowd. What follows is pure magic—audience members join in, sending the balls from the stalls to the dressing circle and beyond. It’s a wave of playful abandon, and you can’t help but be swept up in the joy. Laughter fills the theatre as everyone, from the clowns to the audience, participates in this moment of unrestrained fun. It’s an emotional release—a stark contrast to the storm, but just as raw.


And if you’re paying attention, you might spot Slava himself, not hidden away in the audience, but simply there—present, without makeup, quietly observing the shared joy. His presence is a reminder that life—much like this performance—is full of absurdity, beauty, and fleeting moments of wonder.

Yet, this show isn’t just about Slava’s legacy—it’s about all of us. It’s about the things that unite us: laughter, play, and the shared human experience. So, whether you’re 8 or 80, this show is a must-see. It’s a celebration of life’s simplest joys—joys that we so often forget in the hustle and bustle of adulthood. Take your family, take your friends, take anyone who’s ready to be reminded of the magic of the world. Because when you sit in that theatre, surrounded by snow, laughter, and giant balloons, you’ll remember what it feels like to be a kid again.

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Elena Leo is the Arts & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.