AUDIENCES will be hooked by the Ipswich Regent’s Christmas production – Peter Pan on Ice.

JM Barrie’s classic tale of the boy who never grew up will be staged by the world-renowned Russian Ice Stars from December 18-30 instead of a professional pantomime this year.

“The primary reason for the change is that we’d done all the big titles, so the question we had is do we go back and repeat one of them and I didn’t feel that was the right thing for us to do,” said the theatre’s

general manager David Mansfield.

“Also a lot of what we do features celebrities which is great; at the same time it’s hugely expensive and

creates expectations in our audience in terms of they want to see, say, Robbie Williams in panto and that’s just not going to happen. This is actually coming from a different angle, it’s much more focused on an enchanting spectacular production.”

Igor Moskvin, coach to the Russian National team, will help the Russian Ice Stars rehease.

The choreography will be the work of Caverliere Giuseppe Arena, responsible for the choreography of the opening ceremony of Turin’s 2006 Winter Olympic Games.

“In Peter Pan, everything is about the choreography,” says Caverliere. “There is a great deal of very tight timing incorporating challenging sporting moves which has resulted in a very fast moving production.

“I use an artist’s individuality to help make the character they are playing their own - whether a mermaid, Tiger Lily or Peter Pan and Hook in a fight and skate sequence. Everyone in the audience will be spellbound by the result.”

A specially commissioned original musical score from Italian composer Maestro Silvio Amato, responsible for Hollywood film compositions including Screw Loose, Oscar Wilde and Novello, will provide the musical backdrop.

Wild Rose producer Vee Deplidge pioneered the concept of theatre on ice and has produced full-length productions in theatres around the world.

The performances are designed to allow audiences to view moves close up, rather than the traditional view gained during ice arena productions.

Meeting the area required for the ice rink is one of the main challenges facing the Regent, which will extend the stage maybe two or three metres into the auditorium.

Councillor Andrew Cann, Ipswich Borough Council’s culture portfolio-holder, said: “I can’t wait. This is going to be a fantastic show. We have had five wonderful professional pantos at the Regent Theatre and now we’re moving into something even more magical and spectacular. I am confident Peter Pan on Ice is going to be a regional crowd-puller and will cement the reputation of this council and the Regent as a supplier of top quality shows for the whole family to enjoy.”

Some 14 tons of ice are used on stage, equalling the weight of two double-decker buses; and 14,000 litres of water are used to build the rink - enough water to make more than 56,000 cups of tea.

Around 2,500 litres of anti-freeze are used in the pipe system, enough to fill 100 Rolls Royce radiators and 15km of pipe work is used to create the ice floor. Laid end to end, a similar distance would take Kelly Holmes one hour and 15 minutes to run.

Peter Pan on Ice goes on sale from 9.30am this Saturday and as a special launch offer if you buy one adult ticket before June 18 you get one child ticket free.

See the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh0lby_OhsU