Above :Claudia Elbourne and Lilian Alejandra Velverde in Snowflake at the Ensemble theatre
We are all labelled now by generation gaps and generational demographic breakdowns; Post-WWII Baby Boomers, Generation X (Gen X 1965-1980),Millennials (Gen Y 1981-1996), Gen Z (Zoomers 1997-2012), Gen Alpha(2013-2024) and lastly, the Gen Beta – moving into the future (from 2025-2039).
Amongst these generations, the differences in language, aesthetics, technologies and gender liberation can cause frustration, moral dilemmas and communication breakdowns.
Andy, (played with great agility and charisma by James Lugton), is aconfused and flustered father, who hasn’t seen his daughter for three years and doesn’t know why. He is in many ways, in denial.
Lugton’s 30 minute opening monologue is highly entertaining, thanks to the sharp, complex and amusing script by UK award-winning TV & film screenwriter and playwright Mike Bartlett. Andy acts out his would-be conversation with his estranged daughter Maya, with little knowledge of who she is now.
Andy is hoping Maya will come to the local community hall to have Christmas with him. He has sent messages to people who have seen her at a local cafe.
A young woman, Natalie, comes into the hall to collect cutlery and dinner ware. Natalie is played by Lilian Alejandra Valverde. Valverde is a joy to watch. Her accent and bold body language are very funny and endearing. She gets caught up in Andy’s story, asks a lot of questions and gives him advice.
When Maya finally does arrive, we realise who the young women are. Maya is played with strong conviction by Claudia Elbourne. She is angry, hurt and stubborn. Andy does not understand her friends, who they are and what they do. What ensues is a desperate attempt for Andy to reunite with Maya. Natalie is an excellent interloper.
Kudos to the crew for enhancing the production. Lighting design by Luna Yuet Yee Ng (mentored by Matt Cox). Wonderful composer andsound designer, Daniel Herten. And set and costume designer, Soham Apte. The community hall initially looks somewhat like a funeral home, but lightens up as the play progresses.
Director Jo Bradley has done an excellent job with the pacing and movement. And especially with the emotional complexities.
There is a very important message in the play about listening. Refusal to listen can be the cause of so many relationship problems. This is when pre-conceptions of generational behaviour and assumptions can cause people to back off and stop talking to each other.
This is a play worth seeing. It’s provocative and stimulating.
Mike Bartlett’s SNOWFLAKE plays the Ensemble Theatre, Kirribilli, until the 21st November, 2026.
Production photography by Prudence Upton
