"Breathtaking and stunning to watch"

What a fantastic production this is.
Breathtaking and stunning to watch.

It must be exhausting to perform, but
these brilliant pros show no sign of fatigue.

Forget Dancing On Ice, this is the real deal.

Glenn Meads - whatsonstage.com

"Absolutely spectacular"

I have been to see the show, this Saturday evening at
Swansea and I have to say it was absolutely spectacular.

I would like to know if you are going to produce a DVD of the show?
& if possible when will it be available as I would like to purchase one.

Again the show was a masterpiece and all the performers were superb.

Best regards Mr Terry White

"One of the best shows I've seen"

I saw the show in Cheltenham, it was fabulous.
One of the best shows I've seen.

Many thanks for a very entertaining performance and
congratulations to those on stage and behind the scenes.

Looking forward to the next one.
Keep up the brilliant work.

All the best from Linda.

"Wow - What a show!"

I took my daughter Ashleigh to see 'Cirque de Glace' at the Marlowe
Theatre in Canterbury, Kent. Wow - What a show! I had to write to
tell you how much we enjoyed the performance.

The choreography was fantastic, the soundtrack was spot-on,
and the performers were simply breathtaking. You could see the joy
on their faces - they were having a great time!

My favourite scene was 'Urban Sprawl', and Ashleigh's the 'Festival of Fire'.
The imagery of the Druids worshipping the trees and the earth was truly inspirational.

Ashleigh is hoping to study drama, and she loved interpreting what she was seeing on stage. We are now taking my daughter's grandmother to see it on Sunday.

Please pass on my delight to all those involved in the show,
and I look forward to seeing it all again in a couple of days time!

Yours gratefully, Amanda and Ashleigh Finch

"The most amazing spectacle we've ever seen"

I would just like to say that I took my grandson Harvey Dent
to see the show at The Marlowe in Canterbury on Tuesday.

It was the most amazing spectacle we've ever seen. Thank you so much.
The experience will stay with us for a very long time.

Congratulations and Best Wishes
Gloria Tithecott

"This production was out of this world"

My wife and I plus a friend went to see this fantastic
show at the Cliffs Pavillion, Southend on Sea.

Every russian production we have been to has been spectacular,
but this production was out of this world.

The dancers, the costumes, the story line, the music...
It is the best we have seen! Once again a superb show.

Kind regards, Stephen Rogers

Review - Cirque De Glace - The Lowry

It’s easy to run out of superlatives when trying to describe the sheer spectacle that is Cirque de Glace. From the heart pounding opening to its stunning and memorable close, this is an amazing combination of circus skills, ice skating and storytelling.

A sequence of scenes in Act 1 take us from the first explosive creation of the Earth, through to life developing, man’s appearance and his ability to create fire. Act 2 describes the corruption of the world through pollution
and pursuit of monetary gain, through to it’s purification and hope for life
on Earth.

The Earth is represented by a globe topped by supple contortionist, Valerie Murzak, as Gaia. Her evocative routines at points throughout the show give provide soul to Gaia and Mother Earth.

For most of the show ice skaters move around the stage with style and ease. The Russian Ice Stars, who are the major performers, are all highly skilled skaters. But their real skill is combining the technical side of their skating with the beautifully choreographed dance movements which create the real lasting images of the show.

Although the skating provides the bulk of the performance, there are stunning circus style performances from other artists. The aerial work on the show causes gasps of amazement from the audience. The primary female acrobat, Ekatarina Belokopytova, and one male, Alexander Belokopytov, spin and drop from a variety of ribbons, hoops and ropes. There is also a swing sequence by Svetlana Murzak, which again is excellently done, leaving you breathless.

Special mention must also be made of Yulia Kovina. Her skill with a large number of hoops is undeniable but is outclassed by her hoola with a ring
of fire.

The other main circus style act is a bar work sequence. Two young men perform jumps and somersaults from the bar held between the shoulders
of their compatriots. Again their skill draws gasps and applause from the audience.

This skill and drama are enhanced by stunning costumes designed by Svetlana Murzak, a minimalist but meaningful narration by Phil Walters
and truly dramatic music by Steve Millington and Stu Shaw.

Overall this is a truly incredible evening’s entertainment for the whole family, so get your skates on!

"Totally mesmerised"

After spending last Thursday totally mesmerised by Cirque de Glace,
I was wondering what the plans were for next year.

I have been looking and can not see any shows planned for 2010 and would hate to miss out if one is up and coming.

If you could let me know if there is a production planned
so that I can keep an eye out I would appreciate it.

Many thanks, Lynn Sheppard

Cirque de Glace is so much more than just an ice show

I really don't know whether to review this as an ice show or not. lt is so much more than that, though I was rather sad to see the audience in Dunstable react with greater enthusiasm to the non-skating acts than to the skaters. I guess the average person just doesn't appreciate the the technical skill involved in the lifts, spins and jumps (double axels and a couple of brave triples on a theatre-stage size and often crowded ice pad).

Former three-time British Champion John Hamer is one of the few non-Russian skaters in the Russian lce Stars and I have to admit to trying to spot him in each scene - not difficult, having followed his progress for so many years. A brief chat between shows confirmed he was thoroughly enjoying being with the company and had learned a lot. lt was obviously extremely hardwork and he was continually losing weight.

Cirque de Glace tells the story of planet Earth from its fiery creation, through the development of life up to the crazy pace of today and the damage being done to the environment. The message is one of hope that the planet can recover.

My favourite scenes were the blue butterflies, the portrayal of stone age man (lots of opportunities for the skaters to over-act!), and the city types in their suits working harder, faster and longer.

As well as the aforesaid butterflies, the all-red costumes in the opening volcano scene were particularly effective. Throughout the clothes reflected the story being told, as did the skating - the movement and choreography of Cavaliere Giuseppe Arena creating the required mood each time. (Cavaliere is the ltalian equivalent of a knighthood and, for those who did not know, Giuseppe Arena is no stranger to ice as he choreographed ceremony the opening of the Turin Olympics and various competitive programmes as well as working in the ballet world for many years).

The development of life was portrayed by skaters in black carrying illuminated from amoebae to fish, etc. Using back shapes projection throughout the storytelling, to enhance the moon landing and space walk scene was particularly effective.

The back projection brings highlight me to the non-skating of the show. Two burly men in hi-viz jackets and carrying chainsaws were pretending to cut down the rainforests. They then balanced between them what looked like a narrow plank of wood (on one shoulder each).This turned out to be known as the Russian Bar and two others performed amazing leaps, somersaults - landing each time on the flexible bar to Grove Theatre, Dunstable gasps from the audience. were aerial acts on ropes, silk ropes, Other features a "cloudswing" and German Wheel as well as a hula-hoop act (with fire).

Some of the cast had also learnt to use fire apparatus Gaia on a giant ball as well as skate. Portraying which was the earth, a contortionist acted out the birth and agonies that the planet goes through in its history. Everyone was skilful in his/her own discipline, great the flyers showing strength sometimes.

My only gripe: the spotlight that shone out into the audience from the stage, at times it was just too bright, dazzling me and preventing my seeing absolutely everything.

Don't go to Cirque de Glace expecting something like Disney or Holiday
on lce. This is a complete theatrical experience, with skating thrown in.
I eavesdropped on comments from other audience members with no obvlous knowledge of skating, and they were all favourable. Indeed,
at the end there was a standing ovation.

lf I get the opportunity I would like to see it again in order to concentrate more on the skills of the skaters-though not really fair to single any one out, Andrey Chuvilyaev is so tall you can't miss him(he's6ft 7in), and Valdis Mintals (who skated pairs internationally with Viktoria Shklover, for Estonia also in the company) is very strong and a confident jumper. I have commented before about the strength of basic training that makes so many skaters from former USSR countries so valuable to companies like the Russian lce Stars, and it remains true in this case.

Cirque de Glace ice show, Spa Centre, Leamington

Jaw-dropping somersaults, great skating and a story with a message
are all part of this spectacular show. With so many 'on ice' shows out there I was concerned about this production's possible 'cheese' factor. But I need not have worried. Firstly there is the multi-skilled skaters
who execute spins, jumps and one-handed lifts with agility.

They also 'dance' with real verve and style and with the use of cables literally fly and spin above the stage. But ice-skating is not all this production has to offer. Acrobats twist around lengths of material high above the ice with no safety net, to fall suddenly then be caught in its cunningly entwined folds. There is also impressive gymnastics on a narrow flexible plank - the physical talents of the show's cast is amazing.

All these spectacular feats and more are used to tell the story of the world - from its birth after the big bang, through the evolution of the
human race to the devastating affect we are having on it. Quite an epic tale for an ice show you might think, but through the use of varied and contrasting choreography, music, costumes, moving projections and at times a narrator - it works.

The journey takes in cave men, the invention of the wheel, deforestation and the landing of man on the moon along the way. At one point there is even a projection of trucks dumping waste into a landfill site. One of my favourite scenes involved the skaters dressed in suits and acting like businessmen and women with a speeded up city scene behind.

I don't think there can be many shows that are so educational, fun and beautiful to watch at the same time. Should not be missed.

"your show was absolutely brilliant - it blew us away!"

I just wanted to say that my family thought your show was absolutely brilliant - it blew us away! We were at the Christmas Eve matinee at
Kings Lynn - in the front row!

We hadn't seen any of your previous productions, and our expectations were exceeded - amazing talent, mixed with brilliant production -
we'll definitely be back.

Thank you so much for all your hard work.

Best wishes, Amanda, Steve, James & Sarah Lofts

Cirque de Glace

It’s an epic journey - from the formation of the Earth 4.5 billion years ago, through the origins of life, the birth of man, the discovery of fire and the wheel, the rise of consumerism and the threat of climate change. But Cirque de Glace takes it at a sprint in a two-hour show with no more excess weight or padding than any of its 30-odd, razor-honed performers.

What’s more, the mostly Russian company provides all the spectacle such cataclysmic events demand, in a truly dazzling synthesis of ice skating and circus skills.

Gorgeously dressed, against a backdrop of moving projections, with a rumbling narration and lively soundtrack of contemporary music, there is no room for arty pretension as the set-piece stunts follow each other in rapid succession.

Among the standout moments are contortionist Valerie Murzak, performing with the slow-motion grace of an angel atop a globe, Yulia Kovina spinning a flaming hula hoop around herself and a Russian bar routine that finds Aliaksei Dudko and Denis Kiselev somersaulting at breathtaking altitudes.

But then, there is seldom a moment when something jaw-dropping isn’t happening in a show that surely sets a new benchmark for both ice dancing and circus.

Dangerous, beautiful, compelling!

I have just got back from an evening watching this production at
the Grove Theatre Dunstable and wanted to say how awesome it was.

It was dangerous, beautiful, compelling
and a wonderful experiential piece of theatre.

Thank you so much, Lynette Driver

A show such as Cirque de Glace requires great production, great performers, great direction and great music... Cirque de Glace has all of these...

Rick Wakeman - YES

Ice Stars on Fire!

They say if you think your end is near, your whole life flashes before you. I had several flashbacks as I sat mesmerised in the front row at the Marina Theatre whilst the Cirque de Glace Russian ice stars gave a complete definition to the term ‘ice spectacular’!

These near death experiences would include Alexander Belokopytov whirling from a rope above the ice while his skate blades skimmed past my nose. (My wife says she has told me a million times not to exaggerate!). Later when he reprised this amazing stunt, but with the equally adept airborne acrobat Ekaterina Belokopytova hanging from his feet in a splits configuration, spinning so fast the ice flecks from their skates probably reached the balcony.

This isn’t just an ice show. As brilliant as the twenty or so skaters are, so much of the action takes place above the rink; think Cirque du Soleil on ice with fire! (Yes, there are chainsaws but used in a caring, responsible fashion, so don’t worry!). For example, there is a stunningly beautiful contortionist, Valerie Murzak, (think Nicole Kidman), an amazing cloud swing gymnast Svetlana Murzak (indescribably talented) and what Svetlana Golubeva can do with the German wheel is indescribably indescribable.

On a totally different level Aliaksei Dudko and Denis Kiselev performed incredible gymnastics on apparatus new to me called the Russian Bars. This equipment appears to be four drainpipes covered in a hessian carpet. About fifteen feet long it is balanced on the shoulders of what looked like two champion weight lifters. The spring in this bar catapults the acrobats high above the ice where they achieve amazing body twists and double somersaults. Astounding!

And there is a bonkers drummer doing an extremely good impression of the Muppets’ Animal, at one time using his head on the kit!

But my personal favourite - the irrepressable Yulia Kovina (think Kylie on ice). Remember hoola hoops? Well this lady had got multi-hoola magic. Tricks you wouldn’t think possible, especially the blazing hoola hoop of fire. As she twirled while the blazing hoop spun round her body I couldn’t see how she was going to escape. How did she? You need to see this for yourself.

The whole show has a modern environmental message demonstrated by travelling through time to look at the history of our Planet Earth. As it says in the beautifully reproduced programme, “an amazing creation”. You have five more opportunities to sit back and wonder at this show over the weekend.

Supreme Skating Stars offer a remarkable spectacle

Ice skating is back in Derby Market Place this week.

But if you were among those struggling to stay vertical on the ice rink over Christmas, then you will be amazed at the spectacle provided by Wild Rose and the Russian ice stars at the Assembly Rooms.

The show is Beauty and the Beast and the team of more than 20 performers gives an astonishing display of physical prowess coupled with grace and beauty.

It's like a ballet with added danger, as the expressive dancers also have to be supremely excellent skaters.

They command and control the Assembly Rooms stage as if they were born on their skates, which, according to the programme, most were, skating since they were as young as three. This is a stylish retelling of the traditional tale with a marvellous set and colourful costumes.

But be warned, if you are taking along fans of the cartoon movie, Disney this most certainly is not.

Maybe it's all the better for that. Some scenes, especially those in the Beast's castle, have a creepy, almost sinister edge. The Dance of the Magic Table is especially memorable, featuring an incredible display of pyrotechnic juggling and breathtaking flying routines.

A softer side is shown with the appealing Waltz of the Roses.

All the skaters set and achieve high standards, their skill belying the hard work and making it all look effortless.

But any review has to pick out the amazingly tall (2m) but strong and athletic Andrey Chuvilyaev as the rather macabre Beast, and the lovely and graceful Olga Pershankova as Belle.

Together, they produced some of the evening's most marvellous moments with a series of dramatic lifts and spins in their dances.

This show is Olga's swansong after 30 years of competition and performance skating.

She's certainly going out on a high.

Beauty and the Beast on Ice @ Buxton Opera House

TALK about dancing on ice, these Russian skaters, champions all, dizzify you with their speed and skills. Within the dramatic discipline of keeping faithful to the fairy story of Beauty and the Beast, they dazzle with their spins and lifts.

Producer Vee Deplidge manages to interweave a number of speciality turns into the narrative, even bringing elements of circus into the entertainment with flame-throwing jugglers and breathtaking aerobatics.

But essentially this is the traditional story, told by an unseen narrator and played out by the ice stars in an array of colourful costumes. Even the scene changes are captured by turning the pages of a giant picture book - a neat touch as a changing backdrop to the ice.

The skaters may be Russian, but the production has a strong Italian influence. Choreographer Giuseppe Arena, the man responsible for the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics, creates an ever-varying, characterful entertainment. The original score by Silvio Amato, although over-amplified, captures the moods and romance of the tale.

The 20-strong cast is led in style by Olga Pershankova as Beauty and Valdis Mintals as the Prince. The multi-talented Mikhail Stifounine is outstanding as Beauty’s father.

But essentially this is an ensemble achievement, performed with amazing skill and infectious exuberance – a joy to see. If they manage to keep up this level of athleticism on their exhausting eight-month UK-wide tour they’ll deserve even more gold medals.

Skating stars promise thrills on cutting edge

THE Russian stars of Beauty and the Beast on Ice are promising hair-raising stunts and breathtaking action when theybring the spectacular show to the West country next week.

But it might surprise you to learn that the man charged with choreographing the twists, turns and leaps is not a skater. He’s not even Russian... he’s a ballet dancer... from Italy. But not just any Italian ballet dancer – Giuseppe Arena was principal dancer at the world-famous La Scala in Milan for 18 years.

“I’m from ballet – I never skate,” he said. But he insisted that transferring the skills from the theatre to the ice rink is, while not easy, entirely possible.

He is able to teach what he learned in ballet to a team of skaters who have never danced, to create an artistic masterpiece which may be on ice, but will melt the hearts of young and old when it visits Plymouth Pavilions.

Giuseppe said: “‘The stage is like a page, the choreographer writes the story’ educated to understand the movement of the body and can create the right picture for anybody in any discipline.

“The difference is that in ballet you need to work a lot on your grip. When you jump you need to be strong, when you spin you need grip, like tyres on a road. “It’s the opposite with blades. You need inertia, you need speed. “But the aesthetic is the same with any discipline. You can even
be artistic with boxing.”

The choreographer said the show follows the traditional European tale of Beauty and the Beast. “I try to stay as close as I can to the real story,” he said. Giuseppe promises jaw-dropping stunts and “spectacular moments”– but is understandably keeping them secret.

His aim is for the show to enable the audience to “read with their eyes” and enjoy a mixture of art and sport. “My job is to create a story,” he said. “The stage is a page, the choreographer writes the story. The skaters are what I write. With their bodies they need to dance, and people understand what they are watching, because they talk with their bodies.”

The world-renowned Russian Ice Stars are returning to the Pavilions after their breathtaking performance of Snow White in December 2005.

The skaters are nearly all Russian, with some Estonians and a French girl too, and former competitors at National, European, World and Olympic level. They are regarded by many as the finest company of professional ice skaters in the world.

Giuseppe said nearly all the skaters performed in Plymouth two years ago. It means the company can develop “uniform style”. “I’m proud of every one of them,” he added.

Pavilions spokesman Robert Maltby said: “The Russian Ice Stars really do put on a great visual show, it’s amazing what they can achieve while still on their skates.

“For our technical crew it’s quite a complex operation to build an ice rink in an arena which normally hosts big rock and pop gigs.

“We use a total of 14 tons of crushed ice combined with 14,000 litres of water and a 2,500 litres of antifreeze to make the ice – taking over 140 man hours to build the rink our technical crew will certainly be grateful for the Christmas break.”

Beauty and the Beast on Ice

Once again, Malvern Theatres has been transformed into an ice arena fit for some of Russia's most brilliant ice dancers to perform in.

Beauty and the Beast is enacted to an original musical score by Silvio Amato and choreographed by Giuseppe Arena, who staged the opening of Turin's 2006 Winter Olympics.

Performers of immense skill and artistry are seen first in the crowded market square where dancers jostle and are entertained by street artists.

Belle, the beauty, asks her father to bring her a white rose home from his travels but disaster hits him and he finds himself in the beast's castle.

He is only allowed to leave on condition that one of his daughters is sent to replace him.

Belle goes and she grows very fond of the beast, in spite of his deformities. Their dance duets are most eloquent.

Eventually, seen by the audience through a smoke screen and sparkling fireworks, the beast is magically transformed into a handsome prince and peforms a beautiful Pas de Deux with Belle.

Scenery was managed cleverly as if turning pages in a book and lighting and floor projections helped conjure illusions.

The tale of Beauty and the Beast -- on skates

Olga Pershankova, as Beauty, and Mikhail Stifouine, as her father, on the rink created at Malvern Theatres for Beauty and the Beast on ice.

DRAMATIC somersaults, jumps and lifts by professional ice skaters will feature in a production of Beauty and the Beast on ice.

The spectacular opened at Malvern Theatres last night with the fairytale performed by dancing troupe the Russian Ice Stars.

The latest leg of a 31-week tour of England and Ireland, which started two weeks ago, includes fire jugglers as well as a variety of circus performers.

The skaters perform on real ice, created using 15km of pipes, to tell the classic story of how Beauty and the Beast fall in love.

Olga Pershankova, who plays Beauty, said the show was a celebration of lighting, costumes, music and skating and would be enjoyed by all the family.

Ice show leaves Gaiety Theatre audience spellbound

A HOODED hag swirled eerily out of the mist to grovel at the feet of an indistinct male figure.

The opening scene of Wild Rose's Beauty and the Beast on Ice set the melodramatic and magical atmosphere for the enchanting production that followed.

Vee Deplidge's adaptation of the classic fairytale captured both colourful joviality and the spooky supernatural to keep the diverse Gaiety Theatre audience enthralled throughout.

Beauty Belle's merchant father falls on hard times. Distraught at his change in circumstances, the father, masterfully played by Mikhail Stifounine, stumbles into a dark and mysterious rose garden.

The Beast – a handsome prince cursed by the hag for his lack of compassion – catches him stealing a rose for Belle, but releases him on the condition that one of his daughters takes his place.

Belle eventually falls in love with the Prince and breaks the spell, leading to the happy-ever-after ending.

The storybook set was incredibly simple and yet entirely effective.

Skaters from the Russian Ice Stars had a comparatively small space to perform in, but they were able to leap, spin and throw each other about in the most incredible fashion.

Add the acrobatic and fire-twirling antics of Russian Circus members and
it was a miracle nobody lost an eye.

Giuseppe Arena's clever choreography made good use of the space available and the musical score, by Silvio Amato, certainly added to the dramatic, overall effect.

There were times when it was dark and brooding, such as the encounter between the father and the Beast, impressively played by the world's tallest professional ice skater Andrey Chuvilyaev. While his stage presence was due, in part, to his massive, two-meter frame, he also deserves credit for his acting ability and incredible agility.

His exaggerated movements did sometimes make him appear like an escapee from the Ministry of Silly Walks, but they also added real menace to the character.

Olga Pershankova, who played Belle, put in a flawless performance as the young woman torn between her family and true love.

The show also had some quirky, light-hearted moments in the Beast's castle as his assorted creatures performed a reduced-friction time warp (it's just a slide to the left ...) to an accompaniment that made more than a passing nod to the Addams Family.

Romance, tragedy, comedy and outstanding athletic skill – truly something for everybody.

Ice dancing has been Wild Rose’s business
for close to 15 years.

The British company’s method is to take familiar narratives, usually fairytales, and adapt them into frozen-floored theatre. The strategy
has proved popular with audiences of all ages…

Wild Rose claims to be having one of its best seasons with its current touring production of Peter Pan on Ice. As choreographed by Giuseppe Arena, to a smooth and sometimes sprightly pre-recorded score by fellow Italian Silvio Amato, this lively version of J. M. Barrie’s story of the boy
who can fly is a fine example of its kind. Wild Rose has, perhaps a little shrewdly, followed the lead of the Johnny Depp film Finding Neverland and made Barrie the fulcrum of its staging.

Not that we’re offered any biographical background detailing his motives for creating Peter Pan. Rather, stationed at a desk to the side of the stage, the writer observes and occasionally enters into his own fictions. This simple yet clever device is lent an extra pinch of charm thanks to the casting of Valdis Mintals. Tall, dark and dapper, his mustachioed Barrie cuts a handsome figure.

Mintals, like a few onstage colleagues, is Estonian. They all go by the moniker the Russian Ice Stars, indicating the country of origin of most of these spirited former championship skaters. The company is also sprinkled with circus-trained performers, hence the extraneous but quick, diverting rope tricks featured in several scenes or the cheerful Indian maiden who swivels inside a Hula Hoop of fire.

Cheesiness is kept largely to a minimum in a pacey, good-looking production that touches upon all the right plot points… Viktoriya Shklover, a wonderfully tiny ball of energy... Dmitri Naumkin is sturdy and amiable... Aleksei Kozlov works hard as a scowling Hook... The one I believed in the most was Ekaterina Mintals-Bokiy’s long-limbed Tinkerbell, all flighty twirls and sweetly flaring temperament.

Arena can be an inventive choreographer, as shown by the deftly
handled chase and capture of Peter’s shadow or a swimmingly good mermaid sextet...

Dramatically, the best sequence is the aftermath of the self-sacrificing Tink’s temporary death via an offstage bomb. As a giggling audience recovers from the surprise of the blast, Peter turns not just to us, but
to Barrie, too, to help to revive her. Heightened by a short but smashing solo for Naumkin, the scene represents this efficient entertainment’s sole tug at the heartstrings.

Barrie would love this Peter Pan

Having READ the play and the book, enjoyed biographical works on author J M Barrie, seen the play, written two Peter Pan ice show scripts, watched the film, attended the Holiday on Ice performance and previously seen a snippet of this version, there was no way I was going to miss this Russian Ice Stars’ Peter Pan.

It is a clever show, so beautifully choreographed and performed with
such skill, clarity and discipline that it resembles ballet on ice. Italian born artistic director and choreographer Cavaliere Guiseppe Arena (the title Cavaliere is the Italian equivalent of a knighthood awarded to Guiseppe in 2004 for his services to dance) has for the last 15 years been involved in ice skating choreography and is regarded as one of the most innovative choreographers in the world. His work has included the opening of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

Full marks to the company for giving J M Barrie his due. Skated immaculately by Valdis Mintals, James Barrie was seated at his writing desk at the corner of the stage, he left quietly at certain points, returning later, always hanging up his coat and hat before surveying the action and proceeding, once again, to write.

At times he interacted with the skaters, notably Mother (Svetlana Kuprina), Wendy (Viktoriya Shklover) and Tinkerbell (Ekaterina Mintals-Bokiy), and was then able to show his mastery of pairs skating. This cameo gave us an insight into the reality of the writing of fantasy – times when you sit and write; times when you carry on with other things but your characters seem to demonstrate a life beyond your imaginings and start acting of their own accord.

Other indicators that James Barrie has been taken into account were the dance interludes with the Mother; Barrie always yearned for the love of his own mother who had lost her eldest, and sadly favourite, son in a skating accident when he was young. The brother that never grew up was thought to have been immortalised by the author in Peter Pan.

At one point in the play Peter (Dmitri Naumkin), who was devastated
by the death of Tinkerbell who had saved his life, wanted to re-write the story. He approached Barrie and took his pen to do so. This led to one
of the most inspirational, emotional, moments.

The main frame of scenery was bookcases; a huge book at the rear opened and the double pages provided the beautiful backdrops to the scenes. The joy of the choreography was in the attention to the minutest detail. Whether characters were skating freely or in one spot, their movements were choreographed to connect visually with the whole scene. The cast was all adept at mime and characterization as well as being superb skaters. Occasionally some characters had to be still and they were so immobile that they became part of the scenery.

In one amazing scene Peter, Tinkerbell and Wendy were rescuing Tiger Lily (Claire Bournet) from Hook (Aleksei Kozlov), Smee (Sergei Smirnov) and Bosun (Oleg Tataurov), so there were seven characters on the ice. They each had their own choreography and they were sometimes interacting with one small group and sometimes another. It was an interplay of movement but always visually balanced. Of the choreographic variables, one often overlooked is height – in a lively pirate sequence we even had a skated wheel with height and by using hanging ropes as part of the ship and island scenery and a trampoline covered with pirate flag, we got some well characterized gymnastic work all interwoven into the tapestry on the ice dance.

If you go, watch out for the crocodile. Also note the small touches,
Mother and Father dance (with just a couple of pairs lifts) as befits their characters.

The show, presented by Wild Rose Ltd, tours until the end of June.
I saw it at the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, and am aware I could have gone back every night for the rest of the stay and seen something I had missed before.

James Barrie once said, ‘… some plays peter out and some pan out …’, this one took us all the way to Neverland and back. Barrie would have loved it.

WON OVER!

And to think I had never been all that interested in ice shows. I believe
I had seen only one other. I had always thought of them as a mish-mash variety show on skates - nothing special. And this one would be no more than an extension of that. Peter Pan on Ice. Know the story; they'll just be moving it along quicker. It took one Saturday afternoon in February
at the Congress Theatre to change all that misconception.

Mesmerizing is what it was, from the moment the curtain rose to find the townspeople cavorting in and out and around London to set the scene and the times. One of these was the purported J M Barrie himself who zoomed to his writing desk downstage right at 100 miles an hour and came to a sudden stop. From there he would oversee proceedings as
we watched him slowly constructing his most famous work. Nor did he prove himself a slouch in the pirouetting department, frequently taking our breath away as he did. To accomplish all that while immaculately dressed in grey tail coat and top hat showed the brilliance of VALDIS MINTALS who took the part.

The entrance of Peter in flight also had us gasping. One would have thought DMITRI NAUMKIN spent his life in the air. From then on he gave us the most magical interpretation of this familiar character. And not just with his skating. In common with the entire cast of some 50-strong, Dmitri executed a degree of expression and mime that endorsed Charlie Chaplin's regret at the loss of silent film with its universal language.

Talking of which, I had wondered all through the first half how they would get round the entreaty to the audience to bring Tinkerbell back to life. Even if Dmitri could speak English, no way could he shout: 'Do you believe in fairies?' us to respond by screaming our heads off yes. The ploy was that slow hand-clapping might do the trick. Dmitri tried it on us. It worked. J M Barrie carried the apparent lifeless form of OLGA PERSHANKOVA back on stage and the regimented hand-claps slowly woke her up. By then,
I confess, I was in tears.

How did they do it on the Congress stage, hardly the proportions of Streatham Ice Rink? It was all a part of the expertise of Russian entertainment, to which we were treated in full. Here we had the circus skills, the gift of dance, with much practiced performing precision and all that the Slavonic artistes are noted for. Now that's how to 'do different cultures'. Have the real thing over here, undiluted, not the hotch-potch of multiculturalism, determined by the liberal elite melting potters of Camden Town. I'd lay a pound to a penny the allocation of local arts money in Russia is not our watered-down politically correct set-up. They would go for the full-monty of Russian culture, sticking to what they do best as a performing nation.

The Wild Rose Russian Ice Stars pack out the Congress every time they come, even at these prices. They're appearing just about everywhere between now and July. Next autumn they will be back, with 'Beauty and the Beast'. Save up your pennies, go see them, and be exhilarated.

For myself, I am converted. If I lose interest in all other forms of theatre: straight plays, musicals, ballet, opera, pantomime, the one genre of the performing arts that will sustain me is the one that - come to think of it - contains elements of all the above: The Ice Show.

Peter Pan gets the Frosty Treatment

PENNYFARTHINGS glide over the ice; a magical boy flies into a London nursery room; children are whisked off to a magical land of pirates, indians, fairies and Lost Boys - back with another outstanding production are Wild Rose and the Russian Ice Stars and their new and inspired adaptation of the classic childrens adventure Peter Pan.

As the name Russian Ice Stars implies, the cast are world class skaters, but the excellence and fun of this show is not just limited to outstanding ice dancing. It includes fantastic circus stunts - fire juggling, knife and hoop work, tumbling, and some of the most exhilarating rope climbing
I have ever seen. Forget Cirque de Soleil this was Cirque de Glace and
it was thoroughly exciting.

The story of Peter Pan lent itself particularly well to the fast-paced balletic style of the company. Their expressiveness, imagination and excellent ability to bring the characters alive was pure magic.

A particularly good characterisation was that of Aleksei Kozlov as Captain Hook. A tall and powerful figure whose skating was electrifyingly good, while his shading of the role with menace, humour and fear was first class. Equally impressive was the dinky Viktoriya Shklover, and irrepressible Wendy, darting like a bird over the ice and through the air.

A great performance came from Yury Kuprin as Hook's nemesis, the Crocodile. An interesting device was to introduce JM Barrie himself into
the show as a character interacting with his imaginitive creations. It worked very well, no doubt largely due to the wonderful performance of Valdis Mintals, as Barrie. The whole production is brought together by a fantastic score by Maestro Silvio Amato.

N-ice time had by all

It may be cold outside, but Oxford's New Theatre is freezing - literally.
The stage has been turned into an ice rink three inches thick for the
Wild Rose Russian Ice Stars' latest show, Peter Pan on Ice. Involving 14 tonnes of ice, 14,000 litres of water and 15km of below-floor pipe work, it's no mean feat. And that's before you get to the 27 cast members - many former World Olympic champions - who perform twice a day come hell, high water or recently broken legs.

I've never been much of an ice-skater myself. If I wanted to wobble around wildly while my legs went in opposite directions, I would take myself to the pub. But in the name of journalism, I took a spin on the
rink with two of the show's stars, Dmitry Naumkin (Peter Pan) and Andrey Chuviliaev (Captain Hook). Despite his slight frame, 30-year-old Dmitry proves a tower of strength, supporting me as I veer uneasily across the stage in some rather heavy-duty skates borrowed from the bemused
staff at Oxford Ice Rink.

The main principle, he tells me, is not to 'walk' but to glide. Easy for him
to say, he began skating aged three. I have just about managed to skate a few centimetres unassisted when Dmitry and Andrey begin talking rapidly in Russian, apparently planning some stunt involving me. Before
I have time to protest, they have picked me up and are holding me high above their heads. It is the first - and probably only - time I will feel Torville and Dean-esque on an ice rink. After a few more twirls, I decide
to call it a day and get back to terra firma before the leg cramps really take hold.

From the comfort of a theatre seat, I spoke to tour manager Julian Deplidge about the challenges of taking a large cast and temporary ice rink around the country.

At each venue, eight techicians must lay two 15m x 15m pool liners
on the stage and then build side supports to create a large but shallow swimming pool. They must then lay 15km of piping, connected to a header system and two chiller units outside.

The floor system - which resembles a giant radiator lying flat on the stage - is filled with anti-freeze chilled to -15 degrees. Four tonnes of crushed ice is then spread over the pipes and the rink is sprayed with water every 30 minutes until it is frozen up to 8cm thick. After about 18 hours, the rink is ready for rehearsals. Broken bones, burst pipes and puddles on stage are all hazards of the job.

Mr Deplidge said: "We have had pipes burst before and they're quite spectacular - we'll get a fountain coming several feet in the air. "It looks great, but obviously it has to be fixed immediately. We also have some accidents occasionally. One girl has just arrived back after having a broken leg and there are a lot of muscle strains."

Fairytale show from Russians

WOW wow wow, what a show! The WILD Rose Ice Spectacular Snow White at venue Cymru, featuring the Russian Ice Stars, was an absolute joy to behold, writes FRANK SHEEHAN.

Watching the skills and grace of these skating maestros certainly put the celebrity efforts of ITV’s Dancing on Ice into perspective. Small wonder though as these stars all have amazing pedigrees in the Olympics, world and national championships.

However it is not only the skills of these skaters that enthrall, but the whole production package. The musical score by Silvio Amato was specially composed for this production and is truly memorable. Every note fits the action on ice and much credit must also go to choreographer Giuseppe Arena who I understand was deservedly invited to choreograph the opening ceremony at the Winter Olympics in Turin. This composer/choreographer team is one made in heaven.

I was also impressed by the superbly painted backdrops. Although these were, by necessity, flats, they had a wonderful three-dimensional effect and the forest scene in particular was pure magic. They were complemented by subtle and atmospheric lighting to add to the magic of the night.

All the dancers are sublime and the final dance with Snow White (Olga Pershankova) and the Prince (Valdis Mintals) deservedly drew the loudest and longest applause of the night.

Snow White on Ice

Russian skating stars returned to Norfolk to thrill audiences with another superb ice-dance spectacular. After the huge impact of Cinderella last year, could they do it again? The answer was a resounding Yes! as the world-famous ice stars staged their most lavish production.

Amid the opulent costumes, impressive lighting and specially-commissioned music, the exciting and innovative choreography shone out like a beacon, enabling a highly-talented team to showcase their talents. No surprise, then, that the show's choreographer and artistic director was Giuseppe Arena, who choreographed the opening ceremony of the recent Winter Olympics.

The fairytale story opened in balletic style. However, when the action moved to the forest it achieved greater impact by switching from sedate to sprightly skating as two enchanting, dancing ducks and seven woodcutters added another dimension to the entertainment.

The shining star was Olga Pershankova in the title role surrounded by two dozen highly-talented skaters. But this was not just a display of superlative skating, for the cast also featured Olympic rhythmic gymnastic gold medallist Ioulia Barsukova plus breathtaking aerial ballet. The extended stage-turned-ice rink provided the setting for an extravaganza par excellence.

Forget Bonnie Langford - this is the real thing

Last time, when they performed their very original rendition of Cinderella, I was blown away. And Tuesday's performance of Snow White was even better. Like many, I've been spending Saturday nights watching ITV's Dancing on Ice and, up until today, I've been really impressed. But not any more.

I doubt one of those professional ice skaters on the show could perform the manoevures these presented with such skill. What's more, the Russian Ice Stars don't just make ice dancing look the easiest discipline in the world, they do it on a theatre stage. It's amazing how ten or more skaters can perform such intricately choreographed routines at once in such a small space without bumping into each other or falling over.

And then there's the juggling, gymnastics and aerobatics. The whole show was truly mesmerising - as much for my seven-year-old son, Karim, as for me. Snow White, performed by Olga Pershankova, simply stole the show. The seven dwarves were amazing, as were the three birds, Gras, Fua - both goodies, and Fuliggine - the wicked stepmother's sidekick, played by Ekaterina Bokiy Mintals, Sergei Smirnov and Alexi Kozlov.

The scenery was simple but effective and the costumes breathtaking. I went out with a stinking cold, wishing I could stay at home with the TV, and came home totally energised from this outstanding performance. Don't take my word for it, go and see this show. Otherwise you really won't know what you've missed!

Breathtaking spectacle

TV Viewers may be tuning-in in their millions to watch celebrities and professional skaters compete in Skating on Ice but the Pavilion Theatre is the place to go this week for the most spectacular skating on the planet!

For a dozen or more years Bournemouth and Poole has been honoured to stage the most wonderful ice theatre, featuring world-class and Olympic champion skaters from The Russian Ice Stars. Wild Rose Productions have again pulled out a cracker with their first ever production of Snow White based on the original Grimm's storyline.

The company's longstanding highly innovative choreographer/artistic director Guiseppe Arena who has been invited to choreograph the opening ceremony at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, has pushed the skaters and possiblilities of ice dance in ever new directions. Ballet, gymnastics, themed dances from around the world and, not least, incredible circus acts, combined with skating leaps, lifts, twirls and sheer daredevilment all add up to a mesmerising, jaw-dropping show from start to finish.

Artistry on a knife-edge

Under normal circumstances, seven men careering around on a highly slippery surface chucking axes about would raise some serious health
and safety concerns. But not when it's the ace skaters from the Russian Ice Stars. Likewise, allowing two excitable pre-teen girls to stay up way past bedtime, fuelled by custard creams, can easily be a recipe for disaster. But not when they're enthralled by Snow White on Ice showing at the Plymouth Pavilions.

The show has arrived in Plymouth for Christmas, the fifth venue in a mammoth 27-stop, seven-month tour of Britain and Ireland. And its opening night proved the ideal way to keep a young family entertained
as top-class Russian and Estonian skaters twirled and leapt in front, and sometimes over the heads, of an entranced full house. You could only admire the skill and timing displayed as up to a dozen performers cavorted around what seemed like a postage stamp-sized stage without beheading each other. No wonder choreographer Giuseppe Arena has been chosen to mastermind the Turin Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

My daughters Esme, nine, and Molly, five, sat spellbound through the show, neatly packed into two 60-minute acts. They loved every thrill-packed minute, particularly the amazing display by Olympic gold medal gymnast-turned-skater Ioulia Barsoukova, who caught a tambourine above and behind her head - with her leg. They were also wowed by colourful sets and costumes, and lively music composed by Italian TV theme creator Silvio Amato.

But it was the jaw-dropping stunts and acrobatics that had them enraptured, as well as the timeless story, closely following the Grimm Brothers' original and as far from the Disney version as Millbay is from St Petersburg. Everyone knows how her wicked, jealous stepmum and witch (Svetlana Kuprina) plots to kill innocent Snow White (Olga Pershankova), leading to her hiding out in a wood-cutters' cottage (no dwarfs in this production). After the intervention of some comic geese (Ekaterina Botiy-Mintals and Sergei Smirnov) and an evil crow (Alexei Kozlov), she eventually gets hitched to her prince (Valdis Mintals).

Along the way there are too many spectacular set-pieces to name,
but special mention must go to husband and wife team Alexander & Ekaterina Belokopitova, who leapt from the ice into a danger-mocking sping from ropes high above the stage.

Beat that King Kong!