Ice on Fire, Holiday on Ice' Energia on Tour
19 january 2009
Cyberhoists bring the set alive for new Holiday on Ice show, Energia.
(as read in TPI Magazine January 2009, issue 113, by Marc Cunningham)
If H.G. Wells was still alive and managed to tamper with a U2 show, it might look something like Energia, the latest touring production from Holiday On Ice which premièred on November 6 in Hamburg. Coming a year after our last Holiday On Ice experience - at the première of its last epic, Elements - I once again had the opportunity of sampling this unique brand of entertainment during Energia's successful run at Dortmund's Westfalenhalle. With Strictly Come Dancing fever at an all-time high and fuelling the imagination, this combination of ice skating precision, dance and scenic splendour demanded to be seen in a new light.
Created by choreographer and former champion skater Kevin Cottam, Energia is an interactive show that takes the audience on an epic voyage through time and space. It seeks to demonstrate how the universe connects through energy, and begins with two comic clowns, Ein and Stein, pondering on the awakening of light energy, and the elements, on Mother Earth. The magical journey climaxes with a Bollywood-style finale.
The set, designed by Bart Clement (TPi's 2008 Set Designer of the Year, and nominated once again for 2009), depicts an abstract version of the universe - above the ice is a planet which, not unlike Saturn, is orbited by a cosmic belt and moons.
The graceful, three-dimensional movement of this astronomic creation is enabled by a system of computer-controlled Cyberhoists, while the central sphere/planet acts as both a surface for LED video tiles and a device for accommodating members of the cast, who are revealed when the planet's doors are opened for the finale. Lighting Designer is Painting With Light's Luc Peumans.
My visit began with a warm welcome from Hans Staal, Holiday On Ice's director of production & operations, and his assistant,Yong-Sim Kroese. Before being taken on a backstage tour where I gained insight into the creative and technical design of Energia, Staal shared some of his thoughts about what truly makes this organisation tick.(...)
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