The Nutcracker on Ice is headed to Sydney’s Coliseum Theatre this Christmas, with the Imperial Ice Stars returning for an Australian-exclusive season.
Announced following the company’s previous season of Swan Lake on Ice at the venue, the festive production will bring together classical ballet, ice skating, acrobatics and theatrical staging – alongside Tchaikovsky’s iconic score. The production is created by Artistic Director Tony Mercer and is designed as a family theatre experience.
The production follows Clara, who receives a mysterious wooden nutcracker that comes to life. With the guidance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, she travels through a winter wonderland and the Kingdom of Sweets, with the classic ballet tale being complemented by a plentiful amount of ice skating.
Richard Errington, CEO of West HQ, said the return of the Imperial Ice Stars is an important moment for Western Sydney and the Coliseum Theatre following the company’s previous success at the venue.
The Coliseum continues to draw audiences from far and wide for exceptional performances, and welcoming the Imperial Ice Stars back is a highlight for Western Sydney. Their production of Swan Lake on Ice earlier last year was a standout success, attracting visitors from across Sydney and beyond who came to experience the scale and artistry of this world-class company.
We’re thrilled to close out 2026 with a two-week Australian-exclusive season of The Nutcracker on Ice. It’s a privilege to bring international performance of this scale to our stage and we look forward to welcoming audiences from near and far for a season that will elevate Western Sydney’s reputation for world-class entertainment and deliver an unforgettable finale to the year.
Tony Mercer, Artistic Director of the Imperial Ice Stars, said the company is pleased to return to the Coliseum Theatre after presenting Swan Lake on Ice there in January 2025.
“The Coliseum Theatre gave the Imperial Ice Stars the most incredible start to 2025 when we appeared there with our production of Swan Lake on Ice in January. Two weeks of warm and wonderful standing ovations to our production started the year with a bang.
Now we have the pleasure of bringing our enchanting production of The Nutcracker on Ice to bring the year of 2026 to a close. I promise you an evening of excitement with the beautiful tale of Clara and her adventures with her nutcracker doll and the wondrous journey it will take her on. Edge-of-your-seat excitement along with a story that warms the heart. I am so happy to be returning to one of the world’s newest and most unique theatres and do hope you can join me and my Imperial Ice Stars for an evening of theatre magic!”
Audiences can now join the official waitlist through the Coliseum Theatre website for priority access, a $20 saving per ticket and the chance to win four Opening Night tickets.
