Holiday On Ice wows Louise Vennells at a preview performance in Brighton ahead of next's month's visit to Exeter

AFTER all the inelegant falling on frozen pavements this winter, the cast of Holiday On Ice will give a masterclass in grace, poise, and heart-stopping stunts on a slippery surface when this year's show comes to Exeter.

Fans of the most watched ice show in history are in for a treat with Spirit, which will bring flawless skating and dazzling costumes to Exeter's Westpoint Arena next month.

The franchise, which has three productions touring the world at any one time, is well known for the quality of its skaters, regularly recruiting former Olympic competitors. But this year, the show has a sparkle which makes it stand out from the usual repertoire.

The first half is nothing short of gripping, as couples whirl each other through the air in fabulous costumes based on an East meets West theme.

The audience collectively gasped at dance routines packed full of jumps and gravity-defying twirls, with female skaters spun around dizzyingly, their heads perilously close to the ice.

This was my fourth Holiday On Ice production, and I entered the theatre expecting to feel a little jaded, but I was quickly enthralled. The show is designed to start at sunrise, and move through a full day, so the colour palette ranges from chilling blues and silvers to hearty reds.

Each character's costume is meticulously thought out, from elaborate geishas which glide along without a blade ever leaving the surface, to warriors who barely seemed to have both skates on the ice at any one time.

Glowing neon dragonflies take to the air, and formidable Samurai warriors give way to the show's comedy element – a pair of tottering Chinese dragons, which have more than a hint of the pantomime horse about them.

The real thrill is in the skills and professionalism of the dancers, who particularly excel in Spirit. Robin Cousins, accomplished skater and star judge on TV's Dancing On Ice, was the artistic director of the show. He described it as "lavish, ethereal and exciting, everything a good show should be".

Skater Julia Bailey, 29, was born in Taunton, and will be returning to her home town after moving to Canada with her family as a child. She now forms one of the principal pairs with her fiance Tamas Sari, who she met through the show.

She believes the key to the enduring success of the show is that new productions push boundaries to keep it fresh.

"It still has to be attractive to its core audience, but we are always brining in new elements that appeal to people," she said.

"For a couple of hours, it takes you away from the bad weather or the crisis in the economy."

Among this year's stars is Jo Carter, whose parents were from the UK. She has twice represented Australia at the Olympics before joining the cast, and said she can "barely believe" she gets paid for a job which is "so much fun".

"I think we have one of the best casts of any ice show, and the audience responds really well to it," she said.

"They appreciate the costumes and the technical difficulties. It's a top quality show."

Holiday On Ice has not been immune to the credit crunch. An act featuring a ribbon dancer seemed incomplete, with a solo male performer instead of the usual multiple females. But when I travelled to the Brighton preview, through a winter wonderland landscape that had depleted the audience, the cast put on a show which seemed entirely in tune with the wintry mood, while warming the audience to the core.

Holiday On Ice is at Exeter's Westpoint Arena from February 16-21. Tickets start at £14.50 for adults, with children £10. Call 08444 999 955.