Hidden under the Christmas festivities is a man desperate to reunite with his estranged daughter.

At its heart, Snowflake is a story about family relationships and the generational divide. What’s particularly interesting is the way the audiences respond to these characters is likely quite different and depending on their own age and experiences.

Written by Mike Bartlett, the play follows Andy (James Lugton), who is struggling to understand why his daughter has left home and has not returned his calls for three years.

The first 40 minutes of Snowflake are essentially a one-man show starring Lugton. Through a series of imaginary conversations, the audience becomes his daughter, listening as he rehearses what he might say. He’s worried, hopeful and increasingly agitated, his unease evident as he hops from foot to foot.

Andy is a gentleman from a different generation. One that sees things differently. One that was once held greater influence and now struggles to have its voice heard. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that when he does talk, he dominates the conversation, talking over others and interrupting. “You think what you have to say is so much more important,” he’s told. He doesn’t mean to push his opinions and beliefs on others; it’s simply how he communicates.

Directed by Jo Bradley, the production allows Andy to meander from point to point, jumping between stories, memories and beliefs. He revisits conversations, mimics the people involved and attempts to explain what he meant through clear, articulate words, even when his thoughts wander.

Snowflake is an emotional drama, and Lugton captures Andy’s vulnerability with poignant consideration. We see his heart break as he realises that every single word he says has the potential to be taken out of context, or interpreted in a way he never intended. If you’ve ever found yourself weighing every word during a conversation with someone who means so much to you, this play will resonate.

The play also shows how politics and opposing viewpoints can divide a family. “But those were just words,” Andy insists. Yet words can cut deeply.

In the second half, two more characters join the story. Claudia Elbourne as Maya and Lilian Alejandra Valverde as Natalie. Their arrival shifts the dynamic, moving the story beyond conversations that exist in Andy’s mind and into reality, bringing the generational differences into sharp focus.

This isn’t a joyful production, though it offers moments of comedic reprieve. Snowflake encourages audiences to find empathy and listen, even when they don’t agree with the person in front of them. It’s a compelling and thoughtful production, especially as Christmas approaches and we reflect on our own family tensions.