The award-winning Imperial Ice Stars are 26 Olympic, World, European and National Championship skaters, who between them hold more than 250 competition medals, performing theatrical ice skating on a frozen theatre stage. The Imperial Ice Stars have won five star praise from critics and standing ovations from audiences at some of the world's most prestigious venues - London’s Royal Albert Hall and Sadler's Wells, Singapore's Esplanade Theatre, Montreal's Place des Arts and Cape Town's Artscape.
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The Founders
The Imperial Ice Stars was formed in July 2004 as a joint venture between two leading producers of live entertainment, Tony Mercer and James Cundall, and businessman and former speed skater Vladislav Olenin.
Originally collaborating on a production of The Sleeping Beauty on Ice in Hong Kong in 1998, Cundall and Mercer also produced The Nutcracker on Ice in Australia and New Zealand in 2003 before creating their own company The Imperial Ice Stars in 2004.
Award-winning Tony Mercer has created 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 productions of The Sleeping Beauty on Ice (2004–06 and 2007–09), Swan Lake on Ice (2006–08) and Cinderella on Ice (2008–2010), performed by The Imperial Ice Stars, he has tried to broaden the genre of 'Theatre on Ice' and its appeal to a more adult audience.
James Cundall is a producer of live entertainment with over 80 productions to his name - musicals such as Les Misérables, Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Chicago, Singin' in the Rain, Oliver, 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, José Carreras, Andrea Bocelli, Elaine Paige, Clive James and Jamie Oliver, to name just a few.
James Cundall is Chief Executive of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, based in the UK with subsidiary offices in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Nutcracker On Ice
After premiering in South Africa in 2011, The Nutcracker on Ice will be on tour at the end of 2013, starting off at Wales Millennium Centre in November 2013.
The production follows the classic Russian tale of Maria, the little girl whose love brings to life her cherished Nutcracker doll - a magical Christmas gift from her mysterious godfather - leading to adventures with the Mouse King, the enchanted Prince, and the Sugar Plum Fairy.
The story was originally penned nearly two centuries ago, in 1816, by the German author E T A Hoffman, and was later adapted by the French writer Alexandre Dumas in 1847. From this adaptation, the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreographer Lev Ivanov created their ballet, The Nutcracker, which was first performed in St Petersburg in 1892 and has since become a perennial Christmas favourite the world over.
Swan Lake on Ice
The Imperial Ice Stars received standing ovations from audiences in 15 countries around the world with their first tour of Swan Lake on Ice in 2006-2008, earning the 'Best Special Entertainment Award' at the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards.
The costumes were refined for this new production by Albina Gabueva of Moscow's Stanislavsky Theatre, made by the famous Bolshoi Ballet's costume cutters.
Sleeping Beauty on Ice
Sleeping Beauty on Ice is currently on UK tour.
Cinderella on Ice
The Imperial Ice Stars' third production, Cinderella on Ice, had its world premiere in New Zealand in July 2008 and went on to play to more than one million people during its two year, 22-country world tour. Shortlisted for the 2009 Helpmann Awards prize for the Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production.
The production boasted 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 incorporated three-dimensional scenery depicting a Siberian village square and a black and silver art deco theatre; special effects, including fire and rain; flying and state of the art projection effects.
Cinderella on Ice featured 77 costumes from Albina Gabueva, each of which were individual designs. Ten of the costumes cost more than £4000 each to make.
In a new interpretation of the tale, Cinderella is 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. Despite rival attempts by her stepsisters to steal his heart, true eventually love triumphs.
The score was written by Tim A. Duncan and Edward Barnwell.
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."