Imperial Ice Stars will bring an Australian-exclusive season of The Nutcracker on Ice to the Coliseum Theatre at West HQ, Rooty Hill, from 10 to 20 December 2026. A waitlist opened on 8 July offering priority presale access, a $20 ticket discount, and a draw for four opening night tickets.
The 11-performance run adapts Tchaikovsky’s ballet with Olympic-level ice skating, high-speed acrobatics, and lavish costumes. Artistic Director Tony Mercer said the company is returning after two weeks of standing ovations for Swan Lake on Ice at the same venue in January 2025.
“The Coliseum Theatre gave the Imperial Ice Stars the most incredible start to 2025 when we appeared there with Swan Lake on Ice,” Mercer said. “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.”
The production has toured globally since 2003, blending classical ballet, theatrical spectacle, and world-class skating. The Coliseum Theatre is one of the few Sydney venues equipped for full-scale ice productions, making it the ideal host for a show that demands a frozen stage and a large cast.
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Coliseum Theatre
Purpose-built entertainment venue at West HQ in Rooty Hill, Sydney, capable of hosting large-scale ice productions and live theatre. It hosted Imperial Ice Stars’ Swan Lake on Ice in January 2025 to strong acclaim.
Priority presales for waitlist members open on 23 July at 10am through the Coliseum Theatre website and Ticketek. General public tickets go on sale on 6 August. Kids’ early bird tickets start at $48 plus booking fees, and standard tickets from $68 plus fees. The waitlist offer includes $20 off for members and an automatic entry to win four opening night tickets.
Mercer urged families and visitors to book early, noting the brisk sales for Swan Lake on Ice at the same theatre. “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,” he said.
This adaptation is distinct from the traditional ballet productions staged elsewhere in Sydney. It trades pointe shoes for blades, delivering a faster, acrobatic version of Clara’s journey to the Kingdom of Sweets. The December dates align with school holidays and the city’s peak festive tourism period, positioning the show as a centrepiece of Western Sydney’s Christmas calendar.
Joining the waitlist now is the only way to access the presale and the $20 discount before tickets go to the wider public. Given the sold-out response to the company’s previous visit, theatregoers should not assume last-minute seats will be available. Rooty Hill is well served by the T1 Western Line and on-site parking at West HQ, with dining and other precinct attractions rounding out a full evening.
The season runs 10 to 20 December at the Coliseum Theatre, West HQ, Rooty Hill.