Perhaps the ballet most suited to all generations and newcomers to audiences, Nutcracker is directed, choreographed and costume designed under David Nixon CBE, the company’s former Artistic DIrector.
Nutcracker’s music is by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, a ballet score instantly recognisable by so many. Charles Cuswick Smith is set designer, taking the audience from a Regency era party to a magical winter wonderland, with Sugar Plum Fairy one of the most famous characters in ballet history. Nutcracker is 130 years old on 17 December this year.
Act I – The night before Christmas
Siblings Clara, Frederick and Louise prepare for the Edwards family Christmas party.
At the party, there’s lots of excitement and dancing and Uncle Drosselmeyer arrives with a box containing two sets of life-sized dancing dolls. He also gives Clara and Frederick a wooden soldier doll. He shows an awestruck Clara that the doll can crack nuts. Frederick isn’t happy and the doll ends up broken. Uncle manages to repair the doll, which Clara leaves by the tree. Uncle Drosselmeyer has some magic to cast…..
Clara tiptoes down to the dark room and this is where the magic is released, with transformations, a huge battle and a snowy fairyland journey for Clara and her new-found Prince.
Act II – A garden of delights
Clara and the Prince’s journey takes them to a beautiful garden and a meeting with the Sugar Plym Fairy and her Cavalier, who look very familiar. Arabian princesses, Russian cossacks and French dancers perform for Clara who only stops dancing herself when the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier begin theirs.
But was it all a dream? Clara finds herself in the arms of her father, only catching a glimpse of her Uncle and the Nutcracker Prince as she returns to bed.
Nutcracker is at Leed Grand Theatre from 20 December until 7 January.
Photography provided by Northern Ballet. Cover photograph: Rachael Gillespie (Clara) and Harris Beattie (Nutcracker Prince) by Kyle Baines.
