Somewhat ironically, the opening week of the Cherwell Theatre Players’ The Snow Queen was disrupted by snow and ice – clearly, the weather hadn’t read the script. But if the cast were unsettled by this, those performing at Saturday’s matinee showed no sign of it. Under the direction of Nasser Memarzia – who also wrote the script – this was a slick, polished performance by an enthusiastic troupe of actors, with professionals and amateurs blending together seamlessly.

Cleverly adapted from Hans Christian Andersen’s original, this is a story of loyalty, courage and determination. When an evil mirror shatters into thousands of pieces, its icy fragments find their way into people’s hearts, spreading evil throughout the world. One young victim, Kai, is spirited away by the Snow Queen, and his special friend, Gerda, sets out to rescue him.

Of course, we suspect there will be a happy ending – this is a fairy tale, after all – but there is still plenty of tension as Gerda makes the long, difficult journey across frozen lands to find her friend. On the way she encounters a host of strange and sinister characters, including talking flowers and birds, a gang of robbers and a very helpful reindeer.

The minimalist set is subtly altered throughout to indicate different locations, but what really brings this magical world to life is the range of wonderful effects – from John Baddeley and David Adkin’s evocative lighting to Layla-jade Williams’s eloquent choreography, a skilful fusion of dance and physical theatre. Among a strong cast, Jaspal Singh’s larger-than-life Devil (pictured) instantly captivates, Emma Sian Cooper’s Robber Maiden is a believable blend of kindness and aggression, and James Snee is full of fun as Mr Crow.

The younger members of the cast impress, too, with convincing performances from Sankung Jaiteh as Kai, and from Jessica Young and Helen Everett, sharing the role of Gerda.

The Snow Queen continues until Saturday. Box office: 01295 279002 or 01865 305305.