The Snow Queen is based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, which sees a young girl undertake a treacherous journey to save her best friend from the show’s wicked titular character.

Produced by the Nuffield Theatre with Royal & Derngate, the updated story adapts the “love in the face of adversity” message to show us the core values of friendship, via encounters with characters pulled from other children’s stories.

The adaptation is wittily handled by award-winning writer Georgia Pritchett, best known for comedies Miranda and The Thick Of It.

The cast play the instruments and their singing echoes the West End hit Once, while the back story representations of well-known characters such as Red Riding Hood , in the style of Wicked, is just delightful. I would have been happy with just that, but the actors brought the story to life.

Jessie Hart (Gerda) makes her professional stage debut as the |controlling “friend” who learns |humility on her journey. She’s accompanied by a belligerent street-dancing crow, Jack Shalloo, who has the best one-liners, delivered perfectly with world-weary diction.

Then we have the affected reindeer, Rob Castell, who livens up the dullest carol, and the disenchanted princess, Nicola Munns, who prefers the dwarves to the slightly disappointing prince she’s ended up with. Name a fairy tale and it is incorporated to this mischievous script.

Finally, the Snow Queen. Natasha Jayetileke is truly frightening, not because of her bravado but because of her quietude, which thinly masks her madness. There is a distinct psychological thriller feel and not |a cackle in sight as she ensnares her quarry, Kai (Jos Slovick).

Add a set that is beautiful and effective, icy lighting and some memorable compositions from Douglas Irvine and you have a Christmas show that will intelligently meet the needs of every family member without the clichés of a traditional panto.

REBECCA CASE

Until Sunday January 4, 2015. For tickets, prices and details visits nuffieldtheatre.co.uk or call the box office on 023 8067 1771.