Dunedin's growing status as a favoured destination for headline entertainment acts has been further underpinned by the Regent Theatre's confirmation it will host 10 international shows this year.
While many of the 22,000 plus Rod Stewart fans were still evident in the city yesterday, Regent Theatre director Sarah Anderson announced Sleeping Beauty On Ice was coming to Dunedin in June - with a 10th international act for 2015 to be announced next month.
''This is a real coup for the city and we're thrilled to be welcoming them here. We're also very excited about another show that we'll announce early next month,'' Ms Anderson said.
''The total number of productions we're bringing through is constantly increasing [annually] as both national and international producers expect more of a collaborative partnership to make any tour work,'' Ms Anderson said.
In order to host Sleeping Beauty, Ms Anderson said there would be a ''frozen dual level theatre stage'' installed for the 18 skaters, chosen from European, world and national championship levels of competition.
Sleeping Beauty's producer, James Cundall, said the show was part of the company's 10th anniversary tour. The Regent booking will be the troupe's first performance in Dunedin.
He was aware of the Regent from producers of other shows, and hopes the shows from June 11 to 14 could be the first of many.
''We have two other [separate] shows in New Zealand ... and would like to think they could come to Dunedin as well,'' he said when contacted in Wellington yesterday.
To create the main ice rink, a 13m by 13m ''baking tray'' is set up on stage, with layers of metal piping within. Then glycol is pumped in, with crushed ice added to the tray. Layers of water are added over 24 hours, to build up about 125mm of ice.
The audience would see ''Olympic moves'' from the 18 mainly European competition skaters. ''This is skating on an ice cube, rather than a huge arena,'' he said.
The troupe's world tour began in the Netherlands, and has since been to Spain, China, Thailand, Singapore and New Zealand, and culminates in a show at the Royal Albert Hall in London, in December.
Sleeping Beauty on Ice is set to the music of Tchaikovsky and brought a new take ''and some new twists'' to the classic fairytale love story, Ms Anderson said.
Ticket prices would range from $81 to $111.
The top nine shows
Shows scheduled for the Regent Theatre in Dunedin in 2015
• Sleeping Beauty on Ice.
• Comedian Alan Davies.
• Three elite Russian ballet companies.
• Isla Grant.
• Irish duo Foster and Allen.
• 1970s rocker Dr Hook.
• Thomas Monckton, solo show The Pianist.
Ice show tops acts at Regente: Regent Theatre.
