Friday 25 September 2015

The Nutcracker on Ice returns to Royal Albert Hall this Christmas

The Imperial Ice Stars are returning to the Royal Albert Hall for a third season of The Nutcracker on Ice this Christmas, as part of their 10th anniversary world tour. 

The Nutcracker on Ice will open on Monday 28th December for a strictly limited season of 12 performances.

Set to Tchaikovsky’s most famous score, the show features a 26-strong cast of Olympic, World, European and National Championship-level skaters. The Royal Albert Hall is the only venue in the world where a live 24-piece orchestra will be playing alongside the Imperial Ice Stars’ performance.

The Imperial Ice Stars’ Artistic Director, Tony Mercer – the world’s leading creator of contemporary theatre-on-ice – has once again teamed up with four-time figure skating World Champion and dual Olympic gold medallist Evgeny Platov to create choreography that further raises the bar, with ever more breathtaking high-speed leaps and throws, and awe-inspiring acrobatics, coupled with the most graceful and sublime ice dancing.

Mercer said: “The art form of ice dance lends itself beautifully to this well-loved tale. Not only does the story entail some wonderful romantic ‘adagios’ with lifts and jumps, but the exotic ‘divertissements’ from Spain, China, Arabia, Russia and Egypt allow us to introduce some gymnastics, flying, acrobatics, fire and illusions. Around the world we have found our fast-paced, colourful performances to be an exciting introduction to the classics for the young, and a treat for everyone from newcomers to purists."

Set in early-1900s St Petersburg, The Nutcracker on Ice follows the classic Russian tale of Marie, the little girl whose love brings to life her cherished Nutcracker doll - a magical Christmas gift from her mysterious godfather, Drosselmeyer. As midnight strikes on Christmas Eve, the toy comes to life, sweeping young Marie to a winter wonderland of enchantment where she meets the Mouse King, the Nutcracker Prince and, of course, the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The production has been specially redesigned for this magnificent London venue to incorporate state-of-the-art projection, as well as spectacular flying sequences over the arena floor. Sumptuous costumes - including some stunning LED illuminated effects – have been designed by Elena Predvodeteleva, a renowned designer of costumes for theatre, film and circus as well as couture.

The Imperial Ice Stars last performed at the Royal Albert Hall in 2012 with Swan Lake on Ice, and prior to that in 2010 with Cinderella on Ice, both of which earned them critical and popular acclaim. In 2013, the Imperial Ice Stars were the first ice skating company to perform at the London Palladium for 36 years.

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