Two great reviews for our production of The Last Snow Rider!
Hexham Courant 24/12/2009
The wonder of winter and the childhood excitement that comes with seeing snow is brought to life in the latest production by Northumberland Theatre Company.
Featuring Bellingham's James Reay, who is billed as William Reay, his stage and middle name, The Last Snow Rider tells the story of Freya, played by Gemma Clough, a snow rider responsible for spreading the magic of the season across the land.
But Freya and her kind are kept alive by human wonder at her work and, as children have found alternative entertainment on TV and computer screens rather than playing in the snow, she finds herself the last surviving snow rider.
Evil winter witch Cailleach, played in a confident and commanding style by Kim Evans, seems to be delighting in the demise of the snow riders however, as it is she who wants to use her wicked powers to reign over the frosty months.
So when Freya and her snow cloud Nimbo, played by James, take a tumble into the garden of shy Jack and his trusty canine side-kick Lila, played by Jennifer Gabriele, it is left to the unlikely heroes to save Freya and get her and Nimbo back in the air.

The intimate stage, compact cast and magical set makes for an enchanting production for young and old.
James stole the show as bold and bullish cloud Nimbo who, with his Geordie accent, was at the centre of most of the comedy and proved he could command laughs as well as put in a heart-warming performance.
Gemma makes an angelic Freya, while Christopher Ranson's portrayal of timid Jack and Jennifer Gabriele as loyal pup Lila, both leave a lasting and tender impression - and give you that warm festive glow.
The show is a must-see festive family outing
The Stage 04/01/2010
It is always undoubtedly a glorious piece of luck for a writer when a work of fiction chimes with what is happening in the real world.
In The Last Snow Rider, the realisation that playing in the snow can be more fun than hiding indoors staring at TVs and computers opens just as the heavens drop a white blanket across the country. It couldn't be more up to the minute if it included updated travel reports.
This performance takes place in a very small village hall space that not only stretches the imagination but also the chill factor. It is never quite clear if the wind noises are machine-made or seeping through the draughty windows, covered - loosely - with pinned-up sheets. It does, of course, all add to the metaphorical nature of what exactly is fun during deepest winter.
High praise must go to Gemma Clough who injects Freya, the last of the Snow Riders, with just the right amount of warmth and frostiness, while local actor William Reay's gags as Nimbo the snow cloud draw the most laughs. It is left to the experienced Kim Evans as the wicked witch Cailleach to entice over-excited boos and hisses from the audience as she attempts to hijack winter. Christopher Ranson makes an excellent wuss turned hero of Jack yet the surprise highlight here is Jennifer Gabriele. She may have drawn the short straw having to play Lila the dog but her ability to make endless sniffing look so much fun as the others search for human wonder is endearing.
A modern fairytale for the screen generation, The Last Snow Rider is not only highly topical but also highly thought-provoking