★★★★ Financial Times
★★★★ Exeunt
★★★★ Fourthwall
★★★★★ RemoteGoat,
★★★★★ Fringe Review

‘Ridley’s storytelling combines the fantastical and the down to earth, and leavens the darkness with humour… it celebrates the power of storytelling to see us through the darkest times.’
The Guardian

‘members of Southwark Playhouse’s Young Company contribute vibrantly… Dizzying… marvel at the array of ideas and challenges Ridley serves up’ Evening Standard

‘a show that is a positive joy’
British Theatre Guide

‘a fitting send off’
The Stage

‘an appropriately inventive and chaotic way to close what has been a consistently thrilling and artistically expansive chapter in the theatre’s history.
’ Exeunt

‘Under the arches beneath London Bridge railway station, an astounding thing is happening: Philip Ridley is having fun.’
Financial Times

‘the considerable energy and commitment of Southwark Playhouse’s fresh-faced Young Company…it’s hard not to be swept up with their lust for life.’
The Telegraph

‘’there are terrific performances in David Mercatali’s smart production… members of the Southwark Playhouse Young Company swarm energetically onto the stage’
Time Out

Beneath a sky full of stars a decision is made. This decision sets off an astonishing chain of events. And a journey involving a talking leopard, a greedy King, a magical bird, a tidal wave, a Sea Witch, a lost soldier, a devious dolphin, a war – and a trail of feathers in the snow…

This family show by acclaimed playwright and children’s author Philip Ridley is an epic story of magic and migration. Covering over five hundred years – and with a huge cast – it explores how stories give meaning to random events and of our constant need to find somewhere we call ‘home’. It will be the final production at Southwark Playhouse’s current venue beneath the arches of London Bridge Station before the theatre temporarily relocates to new premises.

Feathers in the Snow reunites director David Mercatali with playwright Philip Ridley, following their collaboration in 2011 on Tender Napalm which was named one of the Guardian, Observer and Time Out’s best shows of 2011.

NB: Feathers in the Snow is suitable for ages 7+

David Mercatali is Associate Director at Southwark Playhouse. For his work on Philip Ridley’s 2011 world premiere, Tender Napalm, at Southwark Playhouse, he was longlisted for the Evening Standard Best Newcomer Award and the OffWestEnd.Com ‘Offie’ Award for Best Director. In 2012 he also directed the UK Tour of Tender Napalm. Previous work includes Someone to Blame (King’s Head Theatre), the world premiere of Philip Ridley’s Moonfleece (Riverside Studios and tour), Weights and his own play The Sound (Blue Elephant Theatre), Runners: The Return (Edinburgh Festival) and People’s Day (Pleasance London). He was Assistant Director on The Eleventh Capital (Royal Court Theatre) and has developed new work at Southwark Playhouse, Paines Plough and Theatre 503.

Philip Ridley is a Time Out and Evening Standard Award-winning writer who has enjoyed international acclaim for plays including The Fastest Clock in the Universe, The Pitchfork Disney and Mercury Fur. He has written several highly successful plays for young people including Sparkleshark and Moonfleece and many best-selling children’s books including the Smarties Prize and WH Smith Award-winner KrindleKrax and Carnigie Medal nominee Scribbleboy.

Wednesday, 12 December 2012
Post-Show Q&A with Philip Ridley, David Mercatali and Cast
This event takes place directly after the performance of Feathers in the Snow on 12 December and is free to ticketholders.

Tuesday, 18 December 2012
Philip Ridley in conversation with Dan Rebellato
2012 was a phenomenal year for Philip Ridley. Tender Napalm returned to Southwark Playhouse after a National Tour, Mercury Fur transferred from the Old Red Lion to Trafalgar Studios, there was the world premiere of Shivered (also at Southwark Playhouse) AND the first revival in over 20 years of The Pitchfork Disney at the Arcola. For one night only, playwright, blogger and academic Dan Rebellato will talk to Philip about writing his first family show, collaborating with director David Mercatali for the third time, and appearing on The Culture Show.

Dan Rebellato is head of theatre at Royal Holloway, University of London, a regular contributor to the Guardian stage blog, and a contributing editor for New Theatre Quarterly and Associate Editor of Contemporary Theatre Review. His plays include Chekhov in Hell (Soho Theatre), and he is an associate artist of Analogue theatre company.

This event takes place directly after the performance of Feathers in the Snow on 18 December and is free to ticketholders.