As the lights go down in Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s Ice Arena, there’s an air of excitement and anticipation.

The pulsating sound of the drums and chants gets louder, and the excitement builds to fever pitch.

There’s a total blackout of the arena and a loud cheer from the packed arena as a trail of fire crosses the ice and the lights come up on 30 world and Olympic-class skaters from over 14 different countries – The Hot Ice Show has begun.

But this is no ordinary Hot Ice Show, for XC, as it's called this year, is a celebration of 90 years of what is now termed ‘The Greatest Show on Ice’ with a worldwide reputation for excellence.

This year, in her 31st year as producer and director, Amanda Thompson has excelled and created an artistically creative masterpiece in the arena that was Europe’s first purpose-built ice theatre and built by her grandfather back in 1934.

Formerly known as the Ice Drome, there’s been an ice show here every year since, even during the Second World War, and it was only during covid that it didn’t take place.

This new spectacular is full of beauty, spirit and grace and borders both technically and artistically on brilliance.

Now in his 16th year as choreographer, former Olympian Oula Jaaskelainen has produced some stunning routines. They are dangerous, daring and challenging, and this year they have never been faster but yet encapsulate ballet, theatre and art.

The ice is continuously filled with the ice ensemble, soloists and paipair-skatingars, many of whom enjoy Olympic status. They tackle triple jumps, toe and axel loops, backflips, twizzles, salchows and complicated dangerous lifts, all performed with precision, intensity and deep passion.

A totally fast and furious production, it boasts around 250 bejewelled costumes made in house by Stageworks, with the cast sometimes having 120 seconds to complete a costume change.
Added to this is a custom soundtrack paired with state-of-the-art lighting that creates an immersive atmosphere that encapsulates every movement on the ice.

I particularly loved the Romeo and Juliet sequence with its speed, romance and twirling banners, whilst I felt myself well up with the finale number - “Joy to the World”.

For me, who has seldom missed a show at what once was called the Ice Drome except when working in Australia, it was good to see the illuminated staircase, built in 1959, still in use.

Dmitry Rylov sends Apollinariia Panfilova high into the air

Jasmine Robinson from Blackpool is the third generation of her family to take part in the Hot Ice Show

Over the years the content and ethos has changed . I remember singers, actors and a band placed in an inside box telling the story of the sequences performed and for a couple of years watching Robin Cousins perform in the ice show after his Olympic success.

But whatever the programme holds each year, I find it so amazing to see the skaters still performing the famous wheel – which Oula told me “will be faster this year", and it certainly was.

It was this wheel and the opulence, glamour and balletical beauty laced with thrills that inspired many young children, including myself, to get their skates on and sign up for lessons at the then Ice Drome.



The Hot Ice Show Runs until 10th September with performances every day, except Sunday, at 7.00pm

From 20th July a special production, Alice Frozen in a Wonderland of Dreams takes place at 2.30 (matinees only) with the cast of the Hot Ice Show.

To book click here.
Same day bookings 01253 341 707