We had been supplied with complimentary press tickets for the aim of this assessment
Peter Pan on Ice has skated into the Worldwide Convention Centre Wales on the Celtic Manor Resort for the Christmas season, and wow, what a magically enchanting efficiency it’s.
It’s carried out by Imperial Ice Stars, the world-renowned Russian firm who we final noticed on the similar venue in December 2021 once they introduced The Nutcracker on Ice to South Wales. We cherished that present, which mixed the acquainted music of Tchaikovsky’s well-known festive ballet with awe-inspiring choreography.
And this yr’s manufacturing is each bit as unbelievable, with the well-known story of Peter Pan accompanied by new and authentic music, and as soon as once more some jaw-dropping ice dancing strikes that defy perception.
Learn on for a full assessment, plus take a look at the Reel on the Cardiff Mummy Says Instagram channel.
The present opens with ‘JM Barrie’ introducing the story, earlier than we be part of the Darling siblings – Wendy, Michael and John of their bed room.
Right here, they’re visited by Tinkerbell, the mischievous fairy, and Peter Pan, the little boy who doesn’t wish to develop up, and discover themselves whisked away on an journey to Neverland, the place they battle with pirates, meet mermaids, and type agency friendships with The Misplaced Boys.
JM Barrie hyperlinks the varied scenes collectively together with his narration and singing, though it’s useful to have somewhat data of the story of Peter Pan as there’s no dialogue from the remainder of the solid. For a synopsis of the storyline, you may choose up a free info sheet simply exterior the auditorium (ask the ushers in case you can’t discover them).
Below the steering of Tony Mercer – extensively considered one of many phrase’s main administrators and choreographers of theatre on ice – the 19-strong solid regularly wow us with their unbelievable strikes and delightful ice storytelling.
The stage itself is a straightforward ice rink, with all of the surroundings projected onto an enormous video display screen on the again. The graphics brilliantly depict the Darlings’ nursery, the rooftops of London, Neverland, and the pirate ship, with out ever detracting from the ice dancing.
The flying scenes specifically are so stunning, as are Tiger Lily’s fireplace dancing and the aerial acrobat mermaid. Peter Pan and Wendy make an distinctive pairing. At one level, he’s pirouetting round and he or she is balancing on his head, neither of them holding on to the opposite. Later, he spins her round simply by her arm, the remainder of her physique suspended within the air. It’s completely unbelievable to observe and there are such a lot of moments when the viewers bursts into spontaneous applause.
One in all our favorite characters is Tick Tock, the crocodile, who provides loads of humour to the efficiency together with his eccentric dance strikes and his interactions with Captain Hook.
The performers rehearsed 11 or extra hours a day, six days per week, for six weeks to deliver the present collectively, and even whereas on tour, they rehearse for 3 hours a day, and it reveals with all the manufacturing so flawless and polished. Amazingly, a few of the skating strikes carried out by The Imperial Ice Stars have by no means been tried earlier than, both in competitors or on the stage (not even the winter Olympics) and a few are so advanced they haven’t even been named but. The viewers actually are witnessing ice professionals on the high of their sport.
At round an hour and 1 / 4 in size, and with no interval it’s good for households, though undoubtedly one for all ages too. Age steering is 4+, with no admittance to beneath 2s. My kids are 13, 11 and eight, and all of us thought it was good. This imaginative interpretation of the traditional story of good Christmas leisure.
Peter Pan on Ice is at ICC Wales, Celtic Manor Resort till 1 January 2023. Tickets value from £18 with group reductions, pre-show VIP packages, and Peter Pan themed afternoon teas additionally out there. The present is round 75 minutes with no interval. Age steering is 4+ with no admittance to beneath 2s. E-book on-line right here.
There’s a proposal for as much as 25% off chosen dates with code NEVERLAND till midnight on 21 December.
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