Express & Star

Wolverhampton Grand at 125: Performance as cool as you like

Just a quarter of a century ago, excited guests were flocking to Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre for a stunning performance of Sleeping Beauty on ice.

Published
Yuri Zimbaliuk, Natalia Pestova, and Alexei Kislitzin from the cast of Sleeping Beauty

More than 20 Russian ice-dancing champions performed on 12 tons of ice at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre back in 1994 – in a "breath-taking" showing of Sleeping Beauty.

It's hard to imagine an ice performance at the city's theatre today, but just 25 years ago visitors were excitedly making their way to the venue for just that.

The Russian All Stars, formed in 1983 and comprising Olympic, world, and European-standard skaters, danced and skated across a 40ft square of ice.

Former USSR champions Inna Volianskaya and Valery Spiridonov took the lead roles of Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. Leonid Kaznakov was the Master of Ceremonies and Olga Volozhinskaya was the wicked fairy, with Ilona Melnichenko as her graceful opponent.

The picture is reproduced as the Express & Star joins with the Grand to mark the theatre’s milestone 125th anniversary celebrations.

If you have memories or pictures, email 125@grandtheatre.co.uk or write to 125 Memories Project, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, WV1 1DE.

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