If you grew up in the UK, or arguably anywhere in the Western world, in the last forty years, you know the smell, that distinct, waxy scent of transformation. You know the pots of bright yellow, clown red, and sparkling turquoise. Snazaroo isn’t just a face paint brand; for millions of children, it was the medium of their imagination. It was the substance that turned them into tigers, superheroes, and butterflies at school fêtes and birthday parties. Last year marked the company's 40th anniversary, a milestone for a brand that dominates the industry. But behind the global logo lies a story far more colorful and dramatic than the paint itself. It is a story of a small kiosk in Minehead, a "blessing in disguise," and a sudden tragedy that threatened to end it all. Now, that story is coming to the New York stage, told by the person who had a front row seat to it all.

Joe Staton, a British actor, writer, and producer currently making his mark in New York City, is bringing his parents’ legacy to life in his new play, SNAZZY. Set for a rehearsed reading at The Rat NYC this December, the play is a vibrant, big-hearted tribute to Lauren and Paul Staton, the couple who turned a scrappy idea into an international phenomenon.

"I’m writing this play as a tribute to my parents," Joe Staton says. "It frames the imagination that propelled their business, but also the very human cost of building it."

Based on his mother Lauren Staton’s memoir, A Snazzy Tale, the play traces the couple’s journey back to the 1980s. Lauren, a self-described "health nerd" and traveler, and Paul, who worked for a tour operator, started with a simple fancy dress concession at the Butlins holiday resort in Minehead, Somerset.

As the play details, the couple introduced face painting as a new form of children's entertainment. It was a massive hit. They began teaching parents how to paint designs, eventually publishing a guide titled Five Minute Faces, a book that would go on to sell an astounding three million copies worldwide. But the road wasn't a straight line. The play explores the pivotal moment in 1991 when Butlins took over all concessions, a move that initially felt devastating but forced the Statons to pivot. They moved to a factory in Brunel Way, Minehead, and began manufacturing their own paint. They had become outsiders who were embraced by the local community, building an empire on the West Somerset coast.

However, SNAZZY is not just a corporate biography; it is a memory play about love and loss. The production touches on the tragedy that struck at the height of their success: the sudden misdiagnosis and death of Paul Staton. The play captures the resilience of Lauren, who, with a young family and a company of 134 employees, had to pick herself up and carry the torch. "Snazaroo would never be the same without Paul," Lauren has said, yet the magic remained in "the smiles on every child’s face."

Joe Staton tells this underdog story with a theatrical twist, employing a Greek chorus, music cues, and a memory-play structure where an older version of his mother narrates her younger self. The production is being mounted by RiffRaff NYC, a theater company founded by Staton with a mission as bold as his parents' business plan. In a city teeming with talent, RiffRaff NYC dedicates itself to providing platforms for immigrant artists who often face systemic barriers in the American theater industry.

"We are committed to supporting immigrant creators and performers," the company states. True to its word, RiffRaff NYC ensures that at least 50% of the actors in every production are immigrants, actively contributing to the rich, diverse cultural landscape of New York City.

The cast for the upcoming reading of SNAZZY reflects this ethos. The ensemble features Lydia West, Brenna Peerbolt, Ross Mason, Truman Gaudoin, Madeleine Doré, Quinn Hoy, and Ronan Spierenburg. Under the direction of Carolyn Dellinger, with stage directions by Abhirami Rhao, this group of international talent will breathe life into the Statons' British entrepreneurial adventure on a Brooklyn stage.

While the reading at The Rat NYC is an intimate first look, Staton has his sights set on a larger horizon. The project is framed as meaningful and culturally valuable, with plans already in motion to take the show across the pond to the UK and the prestigious Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

For now, New York audiences have the unique opportunity to see the sketches of this portrait before it becomes a masterpiece. The reading promises to be an evening of 1980s holiday-camp glitter met with entrepreneurial grit, a love letter to risk-takers, working mums, and the magic of a painted smile.

Event Details

What: Rehearsed Reading of SNAZZY by Joe Staton

Where: The Rat NYC, 68-117 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY

When: December 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Tickets: Available now via Eventbrite