Watch: Circus skaters prepare for their big show at the Kings Theatre

Skaters from Cirque De Glace are performing at the Kings Theatre, Southsea between Tuesday, March 7 and Sunday, March 12 and have been getting themselves finely-tuned at Gosport’s Planet Ice rink ahead of their performances.

The stars have skated across the globe and include a number who have competed in European and World Championships.

The Kings will have a 12m by 12m rink installed and it promises to be a memorable show.

Valdis Mintals, a nine-time figure skating champion in Estonia, said: ‘This ice rink and theatre stage requires you to adapt your elements – it is more about technique.

‘In the theatre, you have to open your character. We do triple jumps, spins and lifts, but we also have flying and flair pieces.

‘Every single show we have to show the audience 100 per cent with our power and soul and people have to believe you.

‘Our show is for a lot of ages – it is interesting for young children to grandmothers.

‘We have a lot of rehearsals – this takes years and years of practice.

‘I hope it is very interesting for the audience – we would like to give something to them and a lot of children like to skate afterwards.

‘We are all good friends and are all for one, and one for all.’

The show Evolution brings to life the story of the creation of our planet, man’s evolution and a journey to the limits of technology.

Jane Kazak, company manager, said: ‘It is a fantastic show.

‘For people who come to the Kings regularly, they will be really impressed to see a real ice rink on the stage.

‘It is a theatre with a long history, a quite old building, and very famous. Now, all of sudden, it is going to be an ice rink!

‘The show not only combines ice skating, but ballet singing and the overwhelming circus performance.’

To book tickets, visit kingsportsmouth.co.uk/whats-on/dance/cirque-de-glace-evolution/