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A twig for a tree, a guilty love of bad Christmas movies, and the sound of a dog “tap dancing” set a playful scene before we dive into the real star: a brand-new Christmas musical called Jack Frost at The MAC Belfast. We sit down with writer Ali Harding and choreographer Jennifer Rooney to unpack how a spark turned into an epic winter adventure with twelve original songs, a celestial court, and a snow globe that holds the heart of the season.

Ali shares why she stepped from performer to writer after decades of Christmas shows and how Jack became the perfect canvas—light on lore, rich with possibility. Together with director Cameron Menzies and composer Katie Richardson, the team built a world that feels cinematic on stage: a village in winter, storms that crack the ground, martial-arts-inspired battles, and character moments that land with heart. There’s Hoot the Owl, a scene-stealing diva with lines for the grown-ups, Jon Snow’s gentle humour for kids, and a ballad—lovingly adapted from Ali’s late brother—that delivers a quiet emotional punch. Expect monsters and loud moments too, balanced with relaxed performances for sensitive audiences.

We talk about the craft behind the magic: overwriting so you can cut in rehearsal, writing with empathy for actors’ quick changes and breath, and shaping movement that reads as elemental power rather than busy traffic. With only seven performers, the company had to conjure a village, a journey, and a battle for balance across the seasons. The result is tight, vivid, and designed so families leave feeling lifted. If you care about theatre-making, festive storytelling, and the kind of belief that gets people through tough winters, this one hits home.

If you enjoyed the conversation, follow the show, share it with a theatre-loving friend, and leave a review to help more listeners find us. Got a favourite Christmas stage memory or character you’d be—Jack, Hoot, Krampus, or Jon Snow? Tell us in your review and tag us on socials.

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