THE INTERNATIONAL ICE STARS
25 champion skaters
14 tons of ice
5 spellbinding shows
The concept of Theatre on Ice full length productions designed to fit theatre stages was born when producer Vee Deplidge, created a company which toured the UK in 1993 to considerable acclaim, with a unique production of The Sleeping Beauty on Ice.
Using professional ice skaters of incredibly high standard, many former competitors at National, European, World and Olympic level and known collectively as the Russian Ice Stars, Vee and her son Julian took the company from strength to strength, supported by a network of experts.
In 1995, The Russian Ice Stars presented The Phantom of the Opera on Ice followed by Carmen on Ice in 1996. New productions of The Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella followed in 1997 and 1998.
In addition to touring major British theatres, the shows found appreciative audiences at venues as diverse as Hong Kong, Monte Carlo, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Germany and Cyprus.
In 1999, The Russian Ice Stars returned to Monte Carlo as part of its European tour of Peter Pan on Ice at the request of Prince Rainier. New shows followed, including Barnum on Ice, Nutcracker on Ice, a tenth anniversary show, Sensational Ice, and a re-staged Phantom. Then followed the most lavish versions of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty each receiving national acclaim.
Having establishing strong links with the Russian Circus, productions were enhanced with specialist aerial effects, adding a new and exciting dimension to performances.
In 2006, a new production Snow White on Ice was created, with an original music soundtrack commissioned from celebrated Italian composer Silvio Amato. Peter Pan on Ice and Beauty and the Beast on Ice continued the trend, offering breathtaking entertainment as never before.
Not until 2008 that is, when The International Ice Stars presented a truly amazing creation, Cirque de Glace. Taking an enormous step away from traditional fairytale storylines, may have seemed madness to some, but creative director Julian Deplidge believed from the outset that audiences would be enraptured at this stunning, thought provoking Circus on Ice spectacular.
He was not wrong... Cirque de Glace continues to impress audiences and receive standing ovations around the world.