SALLY KING gets her skates on to look foward to Peter Pan on Ice

Those Russian Ice Stars are coming back to the Cliffs Pavilion for another spectacular show with glorious costumes and the most exciting stunts you are ever likely to see on ice.

Twelve tons of ice will be turned into a scating rink on the Cliffs' stage and the story is played out complete with flights to Never, Never Land and fights with the pirates.

The show is part of a 24-venue tour which will take the ice-dancers round the country. Later they are going to Cyprus and Monte Carlo where the company has been asked to perform for Prince Rainier of Monaco.

This is the first time that Wild Rose Ice Theatre has produced Peter Pan, an all-new £3.5 million production for the new millennium. Previous productions on ice have included Cinderella, Phantom of the Opera, Carmen and the Sleeping Beauty which have been well-received in south Essex.

There are 21 ice stars of Olympic, European and world competition standard - with a staggering 265 medals between them - in new the show.

Two of the troupe are former members of the Bolshoi Circus and they will be bringing gymnastics into the show, which is choreographed by Guseppe Arena from La Scala, Milan giving a rare combination of grace, elegance, humour and spectacle.

The fast-moving show follows the adventures of Wendy, played alternately by former world championship bronze medalist Maria Orlova and former Russian champion Olga Pershakova.

All the main characters have such demanding roles that the parts are shared between two artists. Wendy and her brothers fly away to Never, Never Land with Peter Pan, played by former Russian champion skater Rouslan Novotseltsev and silver medalist Oleg Tataourov, and Tinkerbell - former world champion silver medalist Ekaterina Murugova and international star Maria Pochekeina.

Here they meet the lost boys, Captain Hook played by former USSR cup winner Oleg Petrov and Russian championship winner Sergei Smirnov.

Hook's pirates perform a spectacular routine swinging over the auditorium on ropes. There will also be a comic crocodile, Red Indians who juggle flaming torches and a mermaid on a trapeze in this family show that will delight old and young alike.

In the spirit of JM Barrie's original story the show will be raising money for poorly children at Great Ormand Street Hospital.

The original painting that appears on the CD of the music from the show will be presented to the hospital and £1 for every CD or cassette sold, as well as a percentage of the ticket sales, will be donated to the cause.

Peter Pan on Ice is at the Cliffs Pavilion from February 22 to February 26 with evening and matinee performances.

Phone 01702 351135 to book.

Cool customers - The Russians are coming, in the shape of international and Olympic champions to present the spectacular Peter Pan on Ice at the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend next month

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