Eve and Lola to take starring roles in The Snowman production in Oldham

Nine-year-olds Eve Sanderson and Lola Simpson will have the exhilarating experience of singing alongside a live professional orchestra, when Carrot Productions brings The Snowman back to the big screen at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Eve will perform a solo of Walking in the Air, which lies at the heart of The Snowman at the afternoon performance starting at 1.30pm. Lola takes the role at 7pm. Both singers were selected by audition last month.

The first of the two Oldham shows is being offered free to local schools by Oldham Music Service, which has supported the afternoon performance in this way for the past three years.

The performance at 7pm is a relaxed one aimed at older people supported in sheltered housing, foster families, children and adults with special needs, as well as looked-after children.

This is particularly meaningful for Rachel Whibley, managing director of Carrot Productions.

As the parent of a disabled child she is all too aware of the lack of high-quality concerts suitable for children with disabilities. This concert is supported by ForViva, which has also shown their back the event in this way for the past three years.

Carrot Productions is delivering something new this year, alongside The Snowman. Oldham audiences will get to enjoy a brand new, specially commissioned animation, entitled A Donkey’s Tale.

This heart-warming story of Dillon the Donkey, an ordinary donkey with an extraordinary dream that takes him on a journey that will change his life, has been specially written and composed by Daniel Whibley.

As an added bonus during the interval, Streetwise Opera – the award-winning performing arts charity for people who are or have been homeless – will give a brief performance.

This is the sixth annual tour by Carrot Productions. Already the most prolific performers of The Snowman film with live orchestra in the world, this year they are taking their shows to more venues than ever before: 16 venues countrywide.