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Thursday November 12, 2026 
11 November 2026
All I want for Christmas is the chance to see Snowflake at The Ensemble again. Directed by rising star Jo Bradley, this play might just be one of the best productions this writer has ever seen at this legendary harbourside theatre.
Combining a cast brimming with talent and chemistry, a simple yet rich storyline from playwright Mike Bartlett, and a touch of Christmas magic, Snowflake is must-watch theatre.
Set in a simple community hall in the UK, Andy (James Lugton) prepares festive-enough decorations in preparation for a reunion. The only issue is, this might just be a party for one. Lugton nurtures a rich characterisation, delivering a vulnerable, empathy-invoking performance. Still, he manages to maintain the nuance of a character who is flawed and as familiar as family.
Lugton has had a storied acting career with extensive experience in Shakespeare. He brings the same dramatic depth to Andy, as an almost 2026 version of a Shakespearean character: tragic but relatable. He really is the ultimate professional, whose presence underscores the story perfectly.
Andy is almost the definition of a daggy yet smart dad, but has an extremely relatable manner. After all, he has been through a lot and just wants the best for his loved ones.
Andy doesn’t remain alone in the hall for long, as a visitor pops in. Be it intentional or not, Londoner Natalie (Lilian Alejandra Valverde) runs into Andy. In short, the more we can get Valverde on stage, the better. She is an incredible talent whose star appears to be on a meteoric rise. Valverde is a natural, from her absolute mastery of a contemporary London accent to her presence, timing, and flow on stage. It’s worth the price of admission just to see Valverde apply her craft.
Cool, quick-witted, and down-to-earth Natalie couldn’t be a stronger contrast to Andy. In combination with Lugton, the two lock the audience into an incredible sequence of back-and-forth, evoking everything from joy to sorrow, shame, and sentimentality. One could watch these two talents spar for hours!
Maya (Claudia Elbourne) is the final character to appear on stage, and the audience is treated to yet another outstanding performance. Without giving away the story, Elbourne has a difficult role to play. Maya is a character experiencing a vast amount of internal conflict and emotion—a depth that Elbourne nails, traversing the complexity of Maya brilliantly. As another emerging talent in the Australian theatre scene, the future is extremely bright for Elbourne.
Three amazing actors meet three contrasting characters. It really is the recipe for a story that explores so much of the modern family experience. The Ensemble has some of the best reflective pieces you can find on a Sydney stage. This production, however, is a very welcome contemporary story that is perfect for the times.
The Sun tends not to give stars in our reviews, but Snowflake at The Ensemble is truly a special production. So, we give this five stars for the top of your Christmas tree!