Slava's Snowshow: envision a solemn play unfolding on stage, when, all of a sudden . . .

13 Dec 2023 -
Photos courtesy of Carol Fox and Associates  

"The Christmas season is a time where we all feel some sense of childlike wonder," says Slava Polunin, Slava's Snowshow's creator and star. "Slava's Snowshow is, in many ways, a journey into childhood. Into your own childhood sparkling with your dreams, into mine, then covered by the snowy blanket, into ours, filled with anticipations and dreams. A trip into the world of bright colours, true feelings and important small details, that one only notices when little. In any case, each person sees their own story in the show, their own world. And it creates a warm, nostalgic, communal atmosphere that fits the holidays just right."

Having been lucky enough to have experienced Slava's Snowshow at four different times, I can verify that it gives a powerful heft to the spirits. And to that magic spirit that floats in the zeitgeist around Christmas. "Usually half the audience is laughing, the other half is crying during my shows," says Slava. "People react very differently to what is happening on stage. I assume one might find it entertaining, but mostly people tell me that the show affects them emotionally, touching the deepest strings of their souls. It is this kind of reaction that is important to me, that’s what I aim for. We seem to see a growing need for people to strive for strong and real feelings." Again I will vouch for Slava's veracity, having both sobbed and laughed uncontrollably at the finale, swept up in giddy wonder.

I ask Slava if he feels responsible for creating laughter during times, like now, that are turbulent. "It is important to bring joy to the people at any time," says Slava. "I do not think it is more important back then than it is now, nor do I see myself as a public servant. And I really see the audience as a form of entertainment for myself. I love happy people. I am so lucky that every night I can see a thousand joyful faces. Of course, there are things that sadden life, but I try to see them as lessons that one has to learn. It’s not difficult to amuse me for I am very seldom in despair. Of course I have been through my share of depressions, disappointments and sadness, but the support from my family and the strong belief that I sense the situation correctly, as well as the precise understanding of my purpose in life have always helped me to overcome this state of mind."

Slava's Snowshow has been performed over 12,000 times. "Our show is not only different year from year," says Slava, "in fact, it is different every time, because it allows big room for improvisation. I do my best to prevent the artists in the company from knowing who is playing who until the last moment. I also try to set up some unexpected things. That way improvisation becomes very natural and the show remains full of life." Thanks to the universal language of clowning, Slava's Snowshow has been performed to enraptured audiences around the world. "Over years of world tours, I've found that the show has a special edge for each country’s audience. For instance, its absurd side comes in handy in the UK. The passionate side becomes more prominent in Spain. Its wide and filled soul is summoned up in Russia. Its poetic side starts to sound clearer in France. We've played our show in Toronto and in Canada many times, and we’ve always received a very warm welcome. I remember having to play additional performances in Montreal, because the number of people wanting to see the show far exceeded the available tickets. We are always happy to return to Canada because we know that we have many fans here, and the audience, in general, is very open and easy to connect with."     

A tour in Japan showed Slava just how universal childlike wonder is. "We had been aware of quite strict rules of conduct in this country. That it is not common to openly laugh or express emotions. Like when you talk to someone, you wouldn’t pat them on the shoulder, as you would in Europe, but rather you’re expected to show respect to one’s personal space, not violate their boundaries. So we had prepared for a similar restrained style of performing. Imagine our surprise when after the very first show, our Japanese producers approached us and asked us to bring back the lively and carefree interaction with the audience. It turns out they wanted to give Japanese audiences the opportunity to feel more free, less bound by the rules and formalities they are accustomed to in their daily lives. It was completely unexpected for us."

Slava has a deep respect for his art. When I ask what advice he would give an aspiring clown, he says, "I would tell them that the very concept of a clown is so huge, so all-encompassing, so endless that it is hard to imagine anything bigger. Many great artists and directors like Federico Fellini believed that a clown is the pinnacle of acting, which makes the very idea of a clown show not only rare, but also something quite significant, if, of course, we are talking about “real” clowns which are part of the long lineage of master-clowning." I then wonder if the spate of clowns as horror villains has affected audience's initial reactions. "I wouldn’t say it has actually affected us. We never felt the need to regain the audience's trust. But strictly speaking, these clown images in movies also did not emerge out of the blue. There are aspects in the figure of a clown, jester, fool, that can really be frightening. Children, for example, love clowns but are afraid to approach them: they just don't look like all the other people. And that painted face, exaggerated parts of the costume and body, all of this is strange, incomprehensible, and frightening."

Slava refuses to take the bait when I attempt a quick gag question about climate change affecting his snowstorm. "I used to be asked if covid would affect Slava's Snowshow, and I always answered that our show is quite resistant to viruses. It is also resilient in the face of the great tragedies of the world. The world's climate has always been challenging. Unfortunately, we cannot influence it. What we can do, however, is create our little island where the climate suits us. We invite our audience to step into this space. The more such islands of goodness there are, the less space there will be for a harsh climate. Slava's Snowshow is resistant to all the great tragedies of the world." Slava paraphrases, poeticizes, a typical audience member reaction, "'Envision a solemn play unfolding on stage, when, all of a sudden, descends from the ceiling, its gentle descent a dance in the air.' Such stories usually evoke a warm smile and fond memories. Our snowflakes have been hiding in hundreds of theaters across more than 50 countries worldwide."