For the first time, NMACC’s Grand Theatre turns into an ice rink as 23 champion skaters bring a frosty Tony Mercer production of Nutcracker on Ice from the UK to Mumbai
Promising a theatrical spectacle like never before, Nutcracker on Ice is a show on a real ice rink. It’s not ballet, so the louder the audience, the bigger and faster the jumps and spins
It's remarkable how a bold, slightly bonkers idea grew into a global theatre sensation — and now, Mumbai gets the first taste of it. This Christmas, The Nutcracker on Ice skates into the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, where The Grand Theatre has been transformed into a shimmering ice rink for the very first time. Twenty-three Olympic, World and National champions will glide onto stage with a dazzling production that fuses storytelling, theatre and elite ice skating — all set to the magic of the season.
“Everything starts here,” says director Tony Mercer, tapping his head during a Zoom call from his home in the UK, recalling the idea he had three decades ago — to stage the classic Christmas ballet, The Nutcracker, on ice. An admirer of ice skating, Mercer felt the sport was confined to large, cold arenas — too restrictive for someone rooted in theatre. He wondered why ice skating couldn’t be staged in a theatre instead, an idea that led to the launch of Imperial Ice Stars in 2004. This world-class company presents story-driven productions like The Nutcracker or Swan Lake on a frozen stage.
The story of Nutcracker still holds the wonder of Christmas. Pics Courtesy/NMACC
“The goal was to take classics, keep the original music, and reimagine them for theatre — with sets, lighting and warmth,” Mercer says. But long before the first curtain rose, he faced what he describes as the most terrifying phase of his life. “I was a theatre professional, pitching an entirely new hybrid form to producers, hoping they would recognise its potential. Many did, but financially, it was a monumental gamble. I remember going to HSBC and saying, ‘I have this idea.’ They replied, ‘We love it—but can we have the deeds to your house first?’” he recalls with a laugh.
The next hurdle was the performers themselves. Skaters are trained for vast 60X30 metre arenas, performing for judges and earning technical scores for jumps, spins and lifts. “So the first conversation was: forget the medals, forget the competition. We’re performing for an audience now. Replace the judges with real people,” he says. The big jumps and lifts stayed — but now they had to serve the story, in costume, as characters. “You may be a world-class skater, but now you must become the Nutcracker Prince.”
A performance of The Nutcracker on Ice at the Royal Albert Hall, London, in 2015
It took nearly two decades for Mercer to explore India seriously, essentially because figure skating isn’t widely known here. “We had to keep knocking and asking, ‘Would you like to see this?’” he says. Some even doubted it would work. But he rejects the idea that audiences should be limited by geography. To NMACC’s credit, they took the leap, despite the scale, cost and the challenge of travelling with 30 people, elaborate sets and a full ice rink.
Ahead of Mumbai, Mercer is both excited and nervous. “I still get apprehensive — even in the UK,” he says. “It keeps me from becoming complacent.” And with something entirely new, there’s no predicting audience reactions. For months, his team and the venue have been obsessively troubleshooting every detail — from transporting 10 to 12 tonnes of real ice to ensuring that chillers can withstand Mumbai’s heat. “They worked fine in the Emirates at 48 degrees,” he jokes.
Imperial Ice Stars, set up in 2004, presents story-driven productions on a frozen stage
Mercer says two kinds of moments stay with him. The first is technical — the instant the curtain rises and audiences realise there’s a real ice rink onstage, with skaters flying across it. “That first collective gasp gets me every time,” he says. The second is pure storytelling — the Nutcracker Prince battling mice, or guiding Clara through the Land of Snowflakes into the Land of Sweets.
Ask him to pick a favourite, and he won’t. Every production, he insists, carries its own history and emotional charge. Nutcracker, though, still holds the wonder of Christmas — “and yes, I still believe in that magic.” For him, theatre should transport you. “For two hours, I’m responsible for carrying you into another world.” So he offers a simple invitation: “Yes, it’s a real ice rink. And we’re not ballet — so come with an open mind. The louder you are, the bigger the jumps, the faster the spins. Let us hear you. I promise — it’s unlike anything you’ve seen in theatre before,” he signs off.
Tony Mercer
WHAT: The Nutcracker on Ice
WHERE: The Grand Theatre, NMACC, BKC
WHEN: December 4 to 14, 2025
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