The boards at the historic theatre look far too small to hold 15m by 15m of ice, let alone the daring moves set to take place during The Sleeping Beauty on Ice, with 20 skaters on the ice at one time.

So, prepare to be amazed when The Imperial Ice Stars head for that very venue from June 3 to 7 with their critically acclaimed production.

The classic fairytale has been choreographed by award-winning artistic director Tony Mercer, with 2002 World Champion and Olympic medallist Ilia Averbukh and international medallist Maria Orlova.

World-class skating, breathtaking high speed throws, aerial gymnastics, stilt skating and fire effects are all included in the show.

Some of the moves have never been seen before, in competition or on the stage.

And most of them would normally be performed in an arena measuring 60m by 60m but that is the whole idea behind The Imperial Ice Stars – to turn ice skating into theatre.

Producer James Cundall said: "Some of the venues have smaller stages but the the skaters get used to it very quickly. They have to adapt their moves.

"Some towns don't have big venues and we are bringing something world class to those towns. People don't have to go to a big city – we will come to you.

"And if someone is going to give me their time and money when money is tight, I'm going to give them a really good evening out."

After seeing the show in a bigger venue in Paris, James said they wanted to continue trying to do new things. "Our job is never to go backwards. We want always to stimulate the audiences."

James, originally a chartered surveyor, worked in the finance industry for 12 years and in 1992 founded Lunchbox Theatrical Productions in Hong Kong, creating international productions like Les Miserables, South Pacific and the acclaimed Alegria for Cirque de Soleil.

In 1999, he moved to Sydney to become director of arts and entertainment fro Austalasia with IMG, and in 2003 he joined International Concert Attractions as joint managing director and the company later included ice shows such as The Nutcracker on Ice.

He returned to the UK in 2004, re-establishing Lunchbox and setting up The Imperial Ice Stars.

The company, who previously produced Swan Lake on Ice, have performed to more than two million people across five continents and the performers have between them won more than 200 competition medals.

Ilia Klimkin, 27, who plays Catalabutte, competed at the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics, was the junior World Champion in 1999, won the bronze medal in the European Championships and won the silver medal three times in the Russian Championships.

Playing a jester character is perfect for this "company funny boy". "Brighton is going to be fun," he said. "On a small stage there is not a lot of speed and the jumps are hard but you will have all the elements of the show just done in a different way."

Husband and wife team Vladislav Zhovnirskiy and Elena Yovanovich agreed smaller stages meant better timing and immediacy.

Choreographer Maria Orlova said the show was an interpretation of the story through ice skating, choosing one of many versions of the classic love story. In this one, the Princess pricks her finger on a rose.

Salford-born Tony Mercer was originally a semi professional footballer for Oldham Athletic but had to give up his ideas of being a professional when he badly broke his leg.

His other love was drama and he could sing but while doing amateur dramatics he was told he couldn't act and should turn his attention to the other side of the stage.

He started out as a production rigger and progressed to lighting designer. He worked with such international stars as The Three Degrees, The Supremes, Elkie Brooks, The Commodores and The Temptations.

His thoughts turned to ice theatre after watching Torville and Dean. "They were able to do something that was sport but was dance and theatre," he said. "I went to watch them live in a sport arena and I sat there in a plastic seat and couldn't see what they were doing unless they were at my end of the stadium.

"I thought wouldn't it be great if they were on a stage. It didn't work for me in an ice arena."

In 1993, he joined Wild Rose Ice Theatre as production executive for The Sleeping Beauty on Ice and later became artistic director.
He directed the likes of Phantom of the Opera on Ice, Barnum on Ice, Carmen on Ice and Peter Pan on Ice.

"I enjoyed it but it was taking ballet characters and moving them to ice and I didn't think it really worked," he said.

In 2004 he joined forces with James to create The Imperial Ice Stars. "We're a theatrical ice company on the stage," he said. "In the arena they are showing off ice skating."

He highlighted the importance of the music and how Tchaikovsky's work made the story easy to stage.

"We are at the start of ice shows on the stage," he said. "In Moscow they are about to build a dedicated ice theatre."

Married to Maria Orlova, Tony has a home in Moscow and their son Sean has already performed in three ice shows aged just six, including an audience of 14,000.

Sleeping Beauty on Ice is at Theatre Royal Brighton from June 3 to 7. Tickets are £19 to £33.50 form the box office n 08700 606 650, the groups hotline on 08700 606617 or www.theambassadors.com/theatreroyal

For a preview of the show click here

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