Creativity doesn’t always begin in studios or galleries. Sometimes, it begins with a brush, a few pots of colour, and a child’s imagination.
This summer, Snazzy, a new play written by British actor and producer Joe Staton, brings the vibrant origin story behind the globally recognised face-painting brand Snazaroo to the New York stage as part of the New York Theatre Festival. Blending nostalgia, colour, and human storytelling, the production celebrates creativity in its purest form — playful, spontaneous, and driven by imagination.
Born in the 1980s at British holiday camps, Snazaroo began as a creative experiment. What started as simple face-painting to entertain children quickly evolved into something much bigger. Colour became character, imagination became performance, and everyday moments became living works of art — the kind created not on canvas, but on smiling faces.
Snazzy explores that journey, but more importantly, it captures the artistic spirit behind it. The play leans into the joy of creativity — the idea that art doesn’t always need to be prestigious or formal to be meaningful. Sometimes, it’s simply about connection, colour, and play.
That idea is captured beautifully in a line from the end of the play: “I paint now for the sheer joy. The idea is about bringing a smile to a child’s face. Forget the artistic recognition, the power, the profit and the competition; none of that would happen without the children and their desire to make-believe.”
The production also brings together a dynamic cast of artists whose work reflects that same spirit of creativity and collaboration. Among them is Ronan Spierenburg, an actor from Taunton whose grounded, nuanced performances bring both warmth and authenticity to the stage. His ability to shift between humour and emotional depth makes him a compelling presence in the ensemble.
Joining him is Naomi Orange, a vibrant force in the New York theatre scene and founder of Fruit Fly Theatre, a company dedicated to bold, imaginative storytelling. Orange’s work as both a performer and creative leader brings an exciting energy to the production, aligning perfectly with Snazzy’s playful and inventive world.
The cast also includes Ross Mason and Brenna Peerbolt, both exceptional performers bringing depth and humanity to the story. Staton previously worked with Peerbolt at Cumberland Theatre in Murder on the Orient Express and The Taming of the Shrew, where her dynamic presence and emotional range left a lasting impression.
Presented by RiffRaff NYC, a company dedicated to supporting immigrant artists and globally resonant storytelling, Snazzy feels particularly at home in New York — a city built on creativity, reinvention, and bold artistic voices.
The production will be presented at LATEA Theatre as part of the New York Theatre Festival this July.
Tickets are available here: https://newyorktheaterfestival.com/snazzy/
A GoFundMe campaign is also underway to help support actors and cover rehearsal costs: https://www.gofundme.com/f/snazzy-by-joe-staton-help-cover-production
From holiday camp creativity to the New York stage, Snazzy is a celebration of imagination, colour, and the simple magic of creating something that makes people smile.
