The world famous Russian Ice Stars will take their audiences on a magical journey to the heart of the best-loved fairy-tale of all time, Snow White, when they come to the region to perform at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells from Thursday 21st – Sunday 24th May.
The original story of an enchanted mirror, a beautiful girl, the ultimate Prince Charming and a shiny red apple comes to life on ice, with ballet, gymnastics and aerial aerobatics to create a breathtaking and mesmerising experience and, appearing with the Russian Ice Stars, is popular celebrity and TV chef, Rustie Lee.
Having made her name, and her reputation, as Britain’s number one authority on Caribbean cooking during an eight year guest slot on TV-AM, Rustie has graced Britain’s TV screens since the mid 1980’s and has become a household name. She is known for her delicious recipes as well as for her vibrant personality and infectious laugh. Her programmes are associated with fun and having a good time whilst learning something new.
This week Rustie took some time out to talk to me about her career, appearing in Snow White on Ice – and she made a surprising confession!
How do you go from TV Chef, through Celebrity Pointless, and end up on Ice?
Well, it’s quite amazing what I’ve done really isn’t it, but I look at it this way. I see myself as an entertainer. I am a chef, but I started off many years ago and, back then, I was a singer in the clubs all around the country. I won Club Singer of the Year and allsorts of other awards.
I’ve been in musicals too, I was in South Pacific and Smokey Joe’s Cafe and I’ve done a few pantomimes as well but doing Snow White on Ice is really different, mainly because – and here’s a confession for you – I can’t actually skate! In the first part they have to take me on to the ice, but the whole show is so much fun, I think I get away with it.
So it’s a good fun family show is it?
It’s a brilliant family show, it really is. It’s not the Disney version of the story, it’s taken from the original Brothers Grimm fairytale and it’s really very much a ballet on ice, but I am there to make it child-friendly, more human, and so that everyone knows what is going on in the dance.
When you see ballet, you see the dancing, and it’s just beautiful, but sometimes you might not really know what’s happening unless you know the story beforehand, but in this I’m the roving reporter and I keep everyone up to speed with the storyline.
So are you the only one who gets to talk then?
Well, yes I am. It’s mostly in silence, but I’m there to do all the talking! I explain what’s happening but I also interact with the audience and especially the children to help to get them more involved with the show.
…a bit like you might do in Pantomime then?
It’s a little bit like that yes – it’s panto ballet on ice! Yesterday we did a matinee performance and we had four or five school parties in and the children thoroughly enjoyed it along with the grown ups who brought them along. They were just thrilled by the beauty and magic of it all because it suits all ages.
But the thing is, although it’s so lovely, it really is hard work for them too. They train every single day before the show, but they are used to the hard work because most of them started skating at three or four years old and they are all champions in their own right. When you see the speed that they go over the ice, and the leaps and spins that they do, it’s just amazing. I really worry because the ice is up on the stage and they go right to the edge.
It’s a phenomenal show to watch, it really is. If there are people who have never seen a show like this, they should really take the time out to treat themselves because it’s really such an amazingly different show. I started this in January and, even now, when I’m not on stage I’m watching from the wings because it’s just so brilliant to see.
Snow White on Ice appears at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells from Thursday 21st – Sunday 24th May with evening performances at 7.30pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and Matinees on Friday and Saturday at 2.30pm and on Sunday at 1.30pm. For ticket prices and availability please contact the box office on 01982 530613 or online at www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk.