Winter Whiskers Walkabout
From the Forests of Eternal Snow, Something Ancient Has Come to Find You.
The Snow Lion — Giant Animatronic White Lion | Accompanied by the Red Queen & Her Servant | Christmas & Winter Walkabout Street Theatre for Hire
The Act
In the depths of the year's darkest days, when the light is lowest and the cold is deepest, the old stories say that something walks out of the forest.
The Snow Lion is a giant white lion — mythic emblem of midwinter, ancient guardian of the light of human kindness — pacing slowly and magnificently through your event, accompanied by the Red Queen and her faithful servant. Rooted in Eastern European folklore, this is not a Christmas act in the conventional sense. There is no Santa. There is no elf. There is something far older and far more powerful — a creature from the deepest tradition of winter storytelling, made real, at your event, in the middle of the modern world.
The Red Queen is a powerful feminine archetype in her own right — a deliberate and meaningful alternative to Mother Christmas, a role model for young girls who are looking for something sovereign and extraordinary in the winter season. She and the Snow Lion move together through your event in a procession of quiet, breathtaking majesty, inviting audiences to step forward, master their courage, and take home a memory of the light in the darkness.
The photographs are extraordinary. The feeling is more extraordinary still.
What Happens
This act does not perform at an audience — it moves through one. The Snow Lion, the Red Queen and her servant process across your event site, creating a series of intimate encounters within the larger spectacle of their passage. Children are invited to step forward for a moment with the lion. Adults who fully intended to watch from a safe distance find themselves doing no such thing.
The act combines Eastern European folklore, animatronic puppetry, spectacular costuming and music into an experience that sits entirely outside the ordinary register of Christmas entertainment — which is, in December, the highest compliment that can be paid to any act.
What People Say
"I just wanted to say how absolutely amazing the Snow Lion was on Sunday. I actually cried when I first saw him — he is so beautiful and magical. Obviously, all the acts we have from you guys are fab but the Lion was outstanding."
-Sarah Jones, Barry Town Centre
"I know that we have had some really exceptional performance animals from Creature Encounters in the past but the appearance of the Snow Lion in Westbury on Saturday was the most wonderfully magical event bar none. It enchanted young and old alike. It was a blissful experience for me and the town council team."
- Councillor Jane Russ, Westbury Town Council
Two clients. Two towns. Both, independently, reaching for words that sit outside the normal vocabulary of event feedback. That is what this act consistently produces, and it is what it will produce at your event.
The Red Queen — A Note for Bookers
The Red Queen is not an afterthought. She is a fully realised character with her own presence, authority and story — a rare example of a powerful, non-domestic feminine character in the winter entertainment landscape. For events with a conscious commitment to diverse and progressive representation, or for programmers who want to offer young girls a different kind of winter magic, the Red Queen is a meaningful and deliberate creative choice. Please feel free to mention this in your enquiry if it is relevant to your event's values.
Available Configurations
The Snow Lion is available as a three-person act (Red Queen, her servant and the Lion) or a two-person act (servant and Lion). The three-person configuration creates the fullest procession effect and is recommended for larger events and high-footfall environments. Please get in touch to discuss which suits your event best.
Perfect For
The Snow Lion is the outstanding walkabout act for Christmas events, winter festivals, Narnia and fantasy literary events, Russian and Eastern European folklore events, Santa's Grotto experiences, Lapland and Arctic themed occasions, snow and ice themed events, storybook and magical lands themes, pantomime, children's literary festivals, shopping centre Christmas activations, civic Christmas celebrations, and any event that wants its winter entertainment to be genuinely, lastingly memorable rather than simply seasonal.
Booking Information
Performers: 2 or 3 (Lion puppeteer + servant ± Red Queen)
Format: Walkabout — roaming across your event site for 3× 30-min per day
Suitable for: Outdoor and large indoor events — flat, accessible terrain preferred
Technical requirements: A clean, secure and private changing space within 30 metres of the performance area, plus free parking
Please note: This act dislikes stairs
Package opportunity: Book alongside Polar Pip or Inka the Polar Bear for full winter coverage across your event — please enquire for details
Available: UK-wide and internationally
Tech spec: RAMS and PLI available on request
To check availability or discuss your event, use the Enquiry button below. We're happy to advise on routes, scheduling and how best to deploy the act across your site.
International Excess Baggage Details
Minimum x 4 Performers required to travel
x 1 flight case @ 84 x 44 x 44cm
30kg
x 6 flight cases @ 100 x 66 x 55cm
32kg + 29kg + 29kg + 29kg + 26kg + 26kg
x 1 Ski Bag @ 155cm long
13kg
Total excess: 214kgs - 8 pieces
Creature Encounters are designers, makers and performers of extraordinary puppet experiences, based in Birmingham. Established in 2004, we have delivered world-class animatronic street theatre across the UK and internationally, including Kuwait, Indonesia, Estonia, Singapore, Monaco, Russia and beyond.
