Fairfield Halls has offered free tickets to local schools in Croydon this month, as part of a new partnership with S4K International, a Surrey-based international company with deep Croydon connections, who will rehearse and launch productions, including the forthcoming musical adaptation of THE SNOW QUEEN, at the Ashcroft Theatre.

On Thursday 27 April, there will be three performances of The Snow Queen during the day, ahead of the show touring internationally.

S4K Founder and Creative Director Julian Chenery explained that there was a long-standing connection between the two companies, which has previously included working in association with Fairfield Halls on the company’s UK theatre touring productions.

“The resurgence of Fairfield Halls’ fortunes under its new leadership coincides with Croydon being the 2023 London Borough of Culture and we at S4K are delighted we can be associated with Fairfield and Croydon both here in the UK and internationally.”

The company’s Shakespeare 4 Kidz brand is known for its easy-to-understand musical adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays and has been touring these shows to theatres across the UK and abroad since 1997. S4K International has been presenting its pop-up theatre one-hour musical versions of popular folk and fairy tales since 2012, mainly across the Arabian Gulf. Productions In the past year have included Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk, Treasure Island and Little Red Riding hood.

S4K’s Producers Carolyn and Julian Chenery are a husband-and-wife team, and both were brought up in Croydon. In fact, their first date was following a meeting in the Ashcroft Theatre Artists’ Bar.

“On both a personal and professional level, Croydon and Fairfield Halls has been part of our DNA for most of our lives. The venue has been dark in recent years, and we are fully behind its new management who we are confident will return the Fairfield Halls to its reputation as the most prestigious arts and entertainment complex in South London.”

Jonathan Higgins, Associate Venue Director for Fairfield Halls, said, “Having worked with Carolyn and Julian previously elsewhere, it’s a real pleasure to now collaborate with them in Croydon and welcome the Shakespeare 4 Kidz team back to the venue. Supporting local creatives and talent is a cornerstone to our mission, and additionally, we’ll be delighted to welcome local school children to the performances of the Snow Queen.”