The Indian adaptation of iconic European fairytale The Snow Queen, written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1854, has been brought to India by the British Council in association with Trestle Theatre. Adapted by playwright Anupama Chandrashekhar, it will premiere at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) on August 14, 15 and 16.

The play traces the journey of lead protagonists, Gowri and Kumar, who live in a southern fishing hamlet in Kanyakumari. The Snow Queen arrives with a freak snowstorm and takes Kumar away to her ice palace in the Himalayas, compelling Gowri to set off in search of her beloved friend. Taking Gowri from Kanyakumari to the mountains of Kashmir, while visiting the backwaters of Kerala, glitzy Bollywood and the barren Chambal Hills en route, it discusses grief, bereavement, loyalty and conflict. It draws on influences from Indian mythology, cultures and topography, and comments on contemporary society.