Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical - Presented by Townsville Choral Society – 6 August 2026
At long last, a true winter has arrived in Townsville, or at least it feels positively arctic for audience members watching TCS’s production of Frozen. The creative team, led by co-directors Andrew and Michelle Higgins, has transformed the theatre into a Scandinavian-inspired magical winter wonderland, assembling a talented cast, crew, and orchestra to bring this frosty tale of sisterly love to life on stage in all its glory.
At the centre of the narrative are Elsa and Anna, portrayed by a team of strong performers across the different stages of their lives. On opening night, Elsie Weatherstone as young Elsa articulately captured her character’s precociousness and the burdensome weight of her powers, forced to “conceal, don’t feel.” Alongside her, Lola Lombardi delivered an energetic performance as young Anna, embodying her character’s desperate desire to reconnect with Elsa following a family tragedy, only to suffer further as her sister freezes her out of her life.
Moving forward in time, the wonderful Judy Higgins-Olsen, no stranger to community theatre, shines as Queen Elsa. Bearing the emotional scars of her childhood, she effectively conveys the complexity of Elsa’s self-loathing and isolation from her community, while simultaneously blowing the audience away with her powerful rendition of “Let It Go.” Newcomer to Townsville, but certainly not to the stage, Amy Leigh Hancock is delightful as Anna, whose seemingly ordinary life takes a series of unexpected twists and turns following her sister’s coronation. Hancock brings an infectious energy, warmth, and optimism to the role, making Anna immediately likeable and easy to invest in.
Alongside these royal women are several stellar male leads. Forming part of Anna’s love triangle is Mitchell Pearce as the rugged mountain man Kristoff, who, together with his reindeer Sven (portrayed by Jett Newman and Jackson Russell), brings both humour and humility to the story. Opposite him is Brady Cronin, who convincingly delivers the duplicitous Prince Hans, the charming suitor whom Anna blindly falls in love with.
Providing generous doses of comic relief for audience members of all ages is one of the production’s great strengths. Sam Stewart, as the ever-popular Olaf the Snowman, is captivating; at times I found myself watching him more than the actual puppet. Andrew Paloni nails his portrayal of the pompous and “weaselly” Duke of Weselton, delivering some of the show’s best one-liners and facial expressions. Added to the stage adaptation and absent from many audience members’ memories of the film is the lovable Oaken, played by Nick Christie, who resets the mood at the beginning of Act Two and teaches us all a little about hygge (Google it to discover this fascinating Danish concept of comfort and wellbeing).
Providing a striking contrast to the frigid world of Arendelle is the arrival of the benevolent Hidden Folk, led by Pabbie (Declan Keyes-West) and Bulda (Courtney Dibben). Their performance of “Fixer Upper” is one of the production’s standout musical numbers and had plenty of toes tapping. With so many songs that have become household favourites, the combined efforts of vocal director Sarah Binder, the cast, and music director Emma Crocker’s powerhouse orchestra pay dividends throughout the evening.
Supported by a talented ensemble of minor characters and dancers, choreographed by Mackenzie Hockings in her debut solo choreographer role, there is no shortage of visual and sensory spectacle on stage. Hats off to the costuming team, who have dressed the cast immaculately, producing work that ranks among the best seen on local stages. The props and sets teams also deserve recognition for creating theatrical magic through a seamless combination of physical scenery and projection technology, allowing smooth transitions between scenes.
If you love Disney and everything it stands for, do not let this opportunity pass you by. Frozen is a truly “n-ice” production, packed with heart, humour, spectacle, and memorable music. Catch it before the best seats melt away.
Comments