Slava's Snowshow

Slava's Snowshow was created by the renowned Russian clown Vyacheslav Polunin, who is professionally known simply as Slava. He developed the production in 1993 to bring visual, poetic clowning to theatrical audiences around the world. Polunin was heavily inspired by the legacy of silent film stars like Charlie Chaplin and Marcel Marceau.

The theatrical experience is most famous for its massive, audience-engulfing fake blizzard that occurs near the finale of the show. Giant, oversized balls resembling boulders are also bounced into the audience from the stage during this immersive sequence. The blizzard is so intense that visibility is reduced to just a few feet.

Yes, Slava's Snowshow is a critically acclaimed production that won a Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience. It has also been a nominee for the Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event during its various runs on Broadway. The show has toured continuously across dozens of countries since its inception.

While it features clowns, Slava's Snowshow is designed as a family-friendly spectacle rather than a traditional children's circus. The highly visual nature of the performance appeals strongly to kids, while the melancholic, poetic themes resonate deeply with adults. It relies entirely on physical comedy and visual illusion, containing almost no spoken dialogue.