Fire at an ice show could be seen as asking for trouble.

But it only added to the dazzling display of skating, acrobatics and tricks which wowed the audience during The Imperial Ice Stars’ performance of Sleeping Beauty at Dartford's Orchard Theatre.

The story was told only through movement and the music of Tchaikovsky but the skaters weren’t the only ones kept on their toes.

For those familiar with other versions of the story, the spinning wheel Aurora pricks her finger on is replaced with rose thorns, her childhood in the woods was non-existent and the princess didn’t get to meet her prince before he awoke her with a kiss.

Dancing On Ice star Olga Sharutenko played Princess Aurora and glittered gracefully around the stage, which was covered in 14 tonnes of ice.

The performance could not be faulted for a lack of drama, provided in abundance by the Black Fairy, Carabosse.

The little skater looked formidable entering the stage under thunder and lightning effects, with a crowd of giant hooded minions throwing her into the air and wielding fire.

The good Lilac Fairy also pulled off some spectacular moves, including jumps which received a sigh of relief from the crowd on her safe landings.

Some of the favourite skating came from the courtier Catalabutte’s assistant.

Her jester role – and seemingly uncontrolled rag-doll approach to skating – had the audience in stitches as she stumbled and slid, but pulled off some of the most intricate skating in the show.