A SPECTACULAR production of The Sleeping Beauty on Ice will enthral audiences at The Alban Arena later this month.

The Russian Ice Stars return to St Albans for their traditional January date with a £3.5 million production featuring world class skaters and eight tonnes of ice.

Sleeping Beauty was the first ice show staged by production company Wild Rose International in 1992, which has decided to revive it to celebrate its fifth anniversary.

Producer and managing director Vee Deplidge said: "For our fifth anniversary tour we decided to bring back a spectacular new version of The Sleeping Beauty on Ice.

"Beauty was our very first production and it appealed to all members of the family. It was so popular that, over the years, we have had many requests to bring it back.

"This production is bigger and better than anything we have done before and its special effects will delight everyone.

"In addition to the drama and romance of this well-loved fairy tale, there is also a lot of comedy. Audiences will have quite a few surprises in store for them."

Former Russian national champion and junior world champion Ekaterina Murugova will star as Sleeping Beauty and Alexei Kiliakov, former champion of Moscow and Russian cup winner, will perform the role of the Prince.

The production brings together two choreographers - Guiseppe Arena, from La Scala in Milan, who previously choreographed Wild Rose's Phantom of the Opera ice show, and Valeri Petcherski, from St Petersberg, who choreographed Carmen On Ice at the Alban Arena last year.

Tchaikovsky's music has been arranged for ice by Tim Duncan and Tony Mercer, who has also directed the show.

The 23 skaters will be travelling with 180 costumes, one-and-a-half miles of piping, three trucks and an eight tonne compressor used to transform the stage into an ice rink.

The Sleeping Beauty On Ice can be seen from Tuesday, January 20, until Saturday, January 24, at 7.30pm, with a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm. Ticket prices range from £8.50 to £22.50 and concessions are available.

For details, contact the box office on 01727 844488.

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