Black Ice at The Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, The Edge

Pandemonium Theatre's Black Ice transports you from muggy Auckland to the frozen, fairytale world of Zebravan the moment you walk into the theatre.

You notice the chilled Concert Chamber, and then there is a storybook set. The stage looks like a frozen lake. At the far side, there is a village and, in the distance, moody blue-black cliff faces.

Looking like a page from a Grimm Brothers' tale, it sets the scene for a story that combines a dash of the blood-thirsty Grimms with the more self-empowering messages of a Narnia story.

Black Ice is a youth theatre project created under the auspices of The Edge's Public Programmes. It pairs experienced theatre practitioners with high school graduates, giving the young people the chance to experience a professional theatre process.

Productions with an amateur cast can often be a trial for audiences but Black Ice is an energetic and charming show that never outstays its welcome.

The story is not much chop but it ticks all the fairytale boxes with its attractive young lovers, creepy villains, magical animals and happy ending. It was devised by 18 people, including the directors Lynne Cardy, Margaret-Mary Hollins and Kate Parker and their cast of 15 actors.

While the story lets them down a little, there is no faulting the cast in what is an energetic and physical theatre piece.

As well as performing multiple acting roles they are also responsible for many technical aspects of the show and we see them racing around the stage working hand-held lights, creating sound effects and manipulating set pieces.

It might sound counter-intuitive but showing the workings of the play makes its fairytale premise more believable as it reinforces the idea that we are in a world where people can be transformed into animals and trees.

There are many memorable performances from actors in leading and lesser roles.

In the leading roles of star-crossed lovers Tindir and Rojeo are the attractive and engaging Natalia Di Palma and Harry McNaughton who realistically capture all the passion and innocence of first love.

Also on the side of good is the Bone Lady/narrator played with warmth by Zinzi Scott-Falanitule.

Philip White and Vincent Haaijema provide some nice slapstick humour as mungle creatures - imaginary animals that seem to combine beavers and meer cats in one amusing package.

The baddies are realised with relish from supreme evil guy Hormone played with gravitas by Jonathan Hodge to his hench women Raven and Yagga and the bungling Barbarian Guards.

As his spy, Raven Phillippa Smith shows great stage presence and Moana Johnson is obsequious as the downtrodden Yagga.

Physical, visual theatre such as Black Ice requires superior design and the production is in safe hands with John Verryt whose theatrical tricks conjure up everything from realistic wolf and buffalo costumes to set pieces that evoke avalanches, Ice Palaces and an abyss.

Full of youth and vigour, Black Ice provides a refreshing tonic to muggy, everyday Auckland.

Until February 18