Russian Ice Stars at the Everyman Theatre (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Russian Ice Stars at the Everyman Theatre

THE famous Russian Ice Stars bring their brand new production of Cinderella on Ice to the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham from Tuesday February 22 until Saturday, March 5.

The skaters are all Russian former competitors at national, European, world and Olympic level and are one of the finest teams of skaters in the world.

The show is choreographed by artistic director Guiseppe Arena who has worked with Rudolph Nureyev and others of his calibre.

The theatre will be transformed into a real winter wonderland and a real ice-rink will be put down 36 hours before the first performance, using a wooden construction similar to a large baking tray, lined with a heavy duty pool liner and served by one and a quarter miles of pipework, secured with 400 jubilee clips, laid within the tray and connected to a large chiller unit.

The system is filled with a mixture of water and antifreeze to stop the pipes from freezing internally and the temperature is lowered to minus 15 degrees.

Crushed ice is spread over the top to speed up the freezing process and finally the rink is sprayed with water every 15 minutes until there's a three-inch covering of ice.

Before the show moves on, the chillers are turned up to their maximum capacity which causes the ice to crack.

It is then removed in barrows and taken outdoors to prevent the melting ice flooding the auditorium!

Tickets from the box office on 01242 572573 or visit www.everymantheatre. org.uk But hurry, because they're selling fast.