Set in a semi-modern London, And the Icicles Froze the Roses in Her Hair follows Asher Michaels, a recently graduated theatre student and amateur actor who, after having no roles fall his way, suddenly gets invited to work on a new experimental theatre piece that fuses mythology and avant-garde storytelling, overseen by a renowned director who is on the verge of making a comeback.

Giving the actors total freedom and converting an old building to solely house the piece, it begins to become a living and breathing creation. And although Asher has surprisingly been cast as the leading man, it appears that the leading lady still remains unknown – a blank space after the character's name on the cast list.

Behind the scenes, Asher begins a relationship with co-star Sally Kale, who rehearse the script together every day. Sally also secretly rehearses the leading lady's role in case a recast could be made possible.

Then, out of the blue comes the actress Ginevra Bianchi, an Italian performer known for her work with a travelling act of artists, painters, musicians and dancers. With the freedom presented within the script, she begins to modify her character, slowly becoming enveloped by her, gradually removing elements of her own identity and submerging herself into the role.

Asher begins to express concern for her as she now wears her makeup even when she isn't acting, shuts herself away from her co-stars and even adorns her body with real roses that cut at her skin. And with a seemingly never-ending fog and rainy season that has surrounded London, Asher begins to wonder if the show can possibly go on as reality seems to become stranger than the play itself.

Sign up now to get the most out of Books2Read

Discover something great at Books2Read.

Thanks for signing up for Books2Read notifications!