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- PRESS RELEASE 05.01.09
Spectacular Ice Skating Live On Stage at
Milton Keynes Theatre
World Class Ice Skaters Present Cinderella On Ice.
The world-famous Imperial Ice Stars, who have won international critical acclaim and five-star
reviews with their tours of The Sleeping Beauty on Ice and Swan Lake on Ice, are set to thrill
Milton Keynes audiences with their brand new production, Cinderella On Ice.
The Imperial Ice Stars specialise in performing theatrical ice skating in the intimacy of the
theatre and are renowned for their daring on the ice and unique style of story-telling. Cinderella
On Ice, their third production, continues to break new ground in the genre of ice dancing.
Stunning skating feats, some only seen in Olympic arenas and some never attempted before,
are performed within the confines of a frozen theatre stage, including breathtaking high speed
throws and incredible lifts and lift sequences.
Producer James Cundall, Chief Executive of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, explains “By
giving these exceptionally talented skaters the freedom to experiment outside competitive
skating, while working alongside some of the top figure skating coaches in the world, we are
able to take ice choreography to new limits.”
Cinderella On Ice has been conceived and choreographed by Tony Mercer, widely regarded
as the world’s leading creator of theatre on ice, together with the highly respected ice coach
Evgeny Platov, dual Olympic gold medallist and four time World Champion, and last year’s ice
dancing World Champions Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski, who also took the title in
2006.
The 25-strong cast of Olympic, World, European and National Championship skaters comprise
the cream of Russian skating talent. The majority of the skaters have been trained by Russia’s
leading coaches, some from as early as two years of age, and between them they have won
more than 250 competition medals.
The production boasts one of the most expensive sets ever created for a theatrical ice show,
anywhere in the world, from one of Australia’s top scenic designers, Eamon D’Arcy. It
incorporates stunning three-dimensional scenery depicting a Siberian village square and a black
and silver art deco theatre, magical special effects, including fire and rain; flying and state of the
art projection.
There are 77 opulent costumes from Albina Gabueva, head designer at Moscow’s famed
Stanislavsky Theatre, each of which are individual designs, made by the famous Bolshoi Ballet’s
costume cutters. Ten of the costumes cost more than £4000 each with their luxurious fabric and
fine detailing.
In this new interpretation of a classic tale, The Imperial Ice Stars tell the story of Cinderella, a
humble chorus dancer who is thrust into the spotlight as a prima ballerina and captivates the
handsome Lord Mayor’s son, the most eligible bachelor in town, with her graceful performance.
Despite rival attempts by her stepsisters to steal his heart, the kindly Watchmakers and Gypsy
Fortune Teller ensure that true love triumphs.
Artistic Director Tony Mercer says “The ‘Cinderella’ story has been told in many different
cultures over many centuries. I wanted to give our version a new setting while retaining the
ingredients and emotions of this timeless story.”
Enter a world of magic and dazzling skating brilliance; Cinderella on ice is an unforgettable
experience, guaranteed to take your breath away!
-ENDS-
LISTINGS
Performances:
3rdh February 2009 to 7th February 2009
Times vary. Contact the Box Office or visit the website
www.miltonkeynestheatre.com for further details.
Tickets:
£13 - £34
Box Office:
Groups Hotline:
Access Booking:
Online Booking:
0870 060 6652 (bkg fee)
01908 547609
0844 871 5477 (bkg fee)
www.miltonkeynestheatre.com (bkg fee)
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Interviews may be set up on request, please contact [email protected] –
01908 547603
The Imperial Ice Stars was formed in July 2004 as a joint venture between two leading
producers of live entertainment, James Cundall and Tony Mercer, and businessman and former
speed skater Vladislav Olenin. Originally collaborating on a production of The Sleeping Beauty
on Ice in Hong Kong in 1998, James and Tony also produced The Nutcracker on Ice in Australia
and New Zealand in 2003 before creating their own company The Imperial Ice Stars in 2004.
James Cundall is one of the top producers of live entertainment across five continents with over
80 productions to his name – musicals such as Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera,
Cats, Miss Saigon, Chicago, Singin’ in the Rain, Oliver, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Cabaret, and
We Will Rock You; spectaculars such as Cirque du Soleil’s Alegría and Riverdance; plays such
as The Blue Room and Talking Heads; and solo performers such as Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Jose
Carreras, Andrea Bocelli, Ricky Martin, Elaine Paige, Clive James and Jamie Oliver – The
Naked Chef, to name just a few.
James Cundall is also Chief Executive of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, based in the UK
with subsidiary offices in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Award-winning Tony Mercer is widely regarded as the world’s leading ice director and
choreographer, and has over 14 years’ experience in creating ice shows such as The Sleeping
Beauty on Ice, The Nutcracker on Ice, Cinderella on Ice, Barnum on Ice, Phantom of the Opera
on Ice, Peter Pan on Ice and Carmen on Ice. With his new productions of The Sleeping Beauty
on Ice (2004-06 and 2007-09), Swan Lake on Ice (2006-08) and Cinderella on Ice (2008-2009),
performed by The Imperial Ice Stars, he has added a greater theatricality to the performances,
creating a new genre of ‘Theatre on Ice’.
The Skaters
The Imperial Ice Stars is one of the world’s leading companies specialising in performing
theatrical ice skating in the intimacy of the theatre stage. Comprising the cream of Russian
skating talent, the majority of the skaters have been trained by Russia’s leading coaches, and
some from as early as two years of age.
The Cinderella on Ice troupe boasts 25 Olympic, World, European and National Championship
skaters who between them have won numerous competition medals.
The Imperial Ice Stars perform stunning skating feats, normally only seen in Olympic arenas,
within the confines of a frozen theatre stage, including breathtaking triple flips, triple toe loops,
double axels, death spirals, camel spins, Bielmanns, triple throw axels, awe-inspiring aerial
gymnastics and their performance specialty of incredible lifts and lift sequences, unrivalled
throughout the ice skating world, as part of their unique style of theatre on ice.
The internationally renowned Imperial Ice Stars have toured The Sleeping Beauty on Ice
(2004-6, 2007-9) and Swan Lake on Ice (2006-8) to such countries as Australia, New Zealand,
Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Finland, Monaco, Cyprus, France, Germany, Spain, The
Netherlands, Russia, South Africa, Canada and the UK. Their stunning productions have been
enjoyed by over two million people worldwide and have been acclaimed by critics from London
to Sydney, Toronto to Cape Town and Tokyo to Moscow.
In 2008, for the first time, The Imperial Ice Stars Treasure Houses Tour saw The Sleeping
Beauty on Ice performed in a sumptuous Tented Ice Palace at some of England’s finest stately
homes.
Cinderella on Ice had its world premiere in New Zealand in July 2008 before going on to tour
Australia’s capital cities. The UK tour commences in October 2008. In total the show is
expected to visit 22 countries over a two year period.
The Creatives
Tony Mercer assembles a first class creative team for each production. The creative team for
The Imperial Ice Stars’ current show, Cinderella on Ice comprises Evgeny Platov, dual Olympic
gold medallist (1994 and 1998) and four time World Champion (1994-1997), and last year’s ice
dancing World Champions Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski, who also took the title in 2006.
Together with Tony Mercer they have choreographed an unrivalled show incorporating all the
intricate and thrilling moves seen at the Winter Olympics and feats never seen before in figure
skating.
Cinderella on Ice is performed against lavish backdrops and scenery created by one of
Australasia’s leading scenic designers, Eamon D’Arcy, renowned for his spectacular staging of
the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony as well as Australian productions of
Cabaret, Singin’ in the Rain and Saturday Night Fever. The production’s lighting has been
designed by Gavan Swift, one of the Australian theatre industry’s top lighting designers.
Seventy-seven richly decorative costumes have been specifically created for Cinderella on Ice
by Albina Gabueva, head designer at Moscow’s famed Stanislavsky Theatre. Every costume is
an individual design – no two are the same – and all have been made by the famous Bolshoi
Ballet’s costume cutters. Ten of the costumes cost over £4,000 each and incorporate luxurious
fabrics and intricate detailing. Ms Gabueva also created the stunning costumes seen in The
Imperial Ice Stars’ Swan Lake on Ice.
The specially commissioned score for Cinderella on Ice has been composed by Tim A Duncan
and Edward Barnwell, both of whom are classically trained and re-arranged Tchaikovsky’s score
for Swan Lake on Ice. Tim A Duncan has worked with Tony Mercer for more than 14 years on
‘theatre on ice’ productions. The Cinderella on Ice score took 9 months to compose and
arrange from start to finish. It is performed by the 72-piece Moscow State Cinematic Orchestra,
and 10 soloists from the Manchester Symphony Orchestra, together with Tim Duncan, Edward
Barnwell (piano) and David Alexander (percussion). It took three days to record, using the
latest digital technology to achieve the best possible sound quality.
The Technicians
The technical team behind The Imperial Ice Stars has perfected the creation of ‘on stage’ ice
rinks to provide the ideal skating surface for the performers. Two chillers, over 10 miles (16kms)
of refrigeration pipes and 600 gallons (2,700 litres) of water are used to create 14 tonnes of ice,
all in the space of 34 hours. For more information on creating the ice rink please contact Becky
Martin [email protected]
Visit www.imperialicestars.com for further information about the company.
If you have any questions or require any further information please contact:
Becky Martin
Press & Communications Officer
Milton Keynes Theatre
[email protected]
01908 547603
www.miltonkeynestheatre.com