Looking back on its history, it is hard to believe that the first-ever performance of the Nutcracker failed to impress critics at its 1892 Saint Petersburg premier.
Over 130 years later, the two-act classical ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky has turned into a timeless festive classic and has been dubbed as one of the most popular ballets of all time. The now-famous magical tale of Clara and her most cherished Christmas present – the nutcracker doll that comes to life at midnight – is an abridged version of Alexandre Dumas’ ‘The Story of a Nutcracker’ adapted from E.T.A. Hoffman’s story ‘The Nutcracker and the Mouse King’.
On the frosty evening of 29 November, my friend (a former French ballerina) and I (an occasional barre classgoer) could be found browsing the Leeds Christmas market stalls for a last-minute snack, as we made our way to Leeds Grand Theatre, brimming with excitement to see our first ever ballet!
Outside the theatre, we were greeted by members of the Northern Ballet Sinfonia, who told us about their petition campaign to protect their jobs at the Northern Ballet, threatened by funding cuts that have forced the company to consider replacing the live orchestra with recordings for some touring productions. Over 11, 000 people have signed the petition, Keep Northern Ballet Live, to keep these world-class orchestra musicians employed and touring across the UK.
Act I: The Night Before Christmas
The first act transports the audience to the night of Christmas Eve and the Edwards family home, as they get ready for their Christmas party and receive their guests. The fairy-tale was set into motion with a smooth scene transition that let the audience in behind the hallway door and onto a beautiful set with a majestic Christmas tree centrepiece. A standout moment for me was when the party came to a halt and the ensemble froze mid-dance. They looked like stunning ice-figures on the beautifully lit stage.
The mood instantly shifted with the arrival of Clara’s well-travelled uncle Herr Drosselmeyer, performed by Harry Skoupas, whose compelling stage presence immediately brought this mystical character to life. Drosselmeyer brought with him a mysterious box that opened to reveal two life-sized French dolls (Sena Kitano and Archie Sherman), promptly carried out of the box under the awe-struck gaze of the curious children at the party. As if puppeteered by Drosselmeyer, the motionless toys came to life to deliver a perfectly synchronised performance of an eye-catching doll dance choreography the audience loved, followed by a Chinese doll (Antoni Canellas Artigues) performing a series of tricks and flying push-ups.
But most special of all surprises is Drosselmeyer’s gift to Clara – a curious-looking wooden toy soldier with the ability to crack nuts. Clara has only a moment to admire her precious gift before her jealous brother Frederick snatches it out of her hands. The ensuing fight between the siblings ends in tears when the doll drops broken to the floor. The peace is restored and Clara’s tears dry after her uncle mends the broken doll. The party ends; Clara leaves the doll by the Christmas tree and goes to bed. Drosselmeyer uses this opportune moment to cast a spell that transforms the room…..
In the middle of the night, Clara sneaks back downstairs only to find herself surrounded by mice (made extra cute by the child actors underneath the masks). To her aid comes a life-sized version of her Nutcracker doll and his eight marching soldiers, who manage to overpower the menacing Mouse King’s army. The Nutcracker triumphs over his adversary in a lethal duel. Following the Mouse King’s overly dramatic death, he is carried from the stage with his paws up in the air to the sound of a laughing audience. During the fight, the Mouse King (Bruno Serraclara) got the crowd going with his sassy dance moves, featuring the floss dance, while teasing the Nutcracker from atop an enormous block of cheese.
Drosselmeyer uses his magic once again to transform the Nutcracker into a handsome prince, who sweeps Clara away to a winter wonderland. The dance of the eight sparkling snowflakes – Helen Bogatch, Alessandra Bramante, Sarah Chun, Mayuko Iwanaga, Heather Lehan, Amber Lewis, Julies Nunès, Allesia Petrosino – in front of the two adventurers was an Act I highlight. The exquisite choreography and the dancers’ perfect timing and technical skills made their performance truly mesmerising. In addition to her deft footwork and impressive pointe technique, dancer Rachael Gillespie’s compelling acting and facial expressions conveying innocence, childlike wonder, joy and sadness brought the character of Clara to life. Harris Beattie’s high-energy, powerful performance as the Nutcracker in battle with his soldiers and later as the Nutcracker Prince were both spectacular. Much like the rest of the ensemble, Gillespie and Beattie were perfectly cast in their respective roles. The chemistry between the two as they danced together through the snowy pine forest emphasised the connection between the two characters. At the end of Act I, Clara and her Prince are transported to a new location in a magnificent, enchanted sleigh, magicked up by Drosselmeyer.
Act II: The Garden of Delights
The second act was not as action-packed and story-driven as the first, but was nonetheless full of stellar performances. The eight waltzing flowers – Helen Bogatch, Alessandra Bramante, Heather Lehan, Harriet Marden, Kaho Masumoto, Aerys Merrill, Julies Nunès, Allesia Petrosino – delivered a delightful interpretation of the iconic Waltz of the Flowers.
Dominique Larose’s mesmerising solo as the Sugar Plum Fairy was particularly memorable, as was her dazzling pink costume! The dancer’s delicate and controlled footwork, fluid arm movements and the graceful way she moved across the stage made a technically challenging performance look easy and a joy to watch. As soon as we saw Larose dance as Clara’s sister Louise in the first act, my friend and I concurred: ‘she has main character energy and nerves of steel’. The Cavalier (Jonathan Hanks) was no less impressive as he was quite literally flying across the stage, showcasing explosive high jumps and stamina. The two dancers demonstrated strength and composure as they executed a series of challenging lifts together. At the end of their routine, the Sugar Plum Fairy’s powerful leap into the arms of her Cavalier, with the force to set him off balance, evoked an audible gasp from a member of the audience in that split second before everyone knew they had nailed the lift and applauded heartily.
The story ends as Clara wakes up in the arms of her father. Confused, she runs downstairs looking for the Prince, but to no avail. As she turns to go back to bed, her uncle re-appears and hands her the nutcracker doll. Clutching the doll in her hands, Clara remains oblivious to the Nutcracker Prince bidding her goodbye as he and Drosselmeyer make their exit through the door behind her.
The cast’s incredible performances on the opening night of the Nutcracker were complemented by the sensational costume design, set, lighting and the live orchestra that made the Nutcracker magic possible and created a truly immersive experience for the audience.
Final thoughts and tips
David Nixon’s CBE take on this festive favourite is a fantastic Christmas treat for the whole family and an excellent introduction to ballet for adults and children alike. First-time ballet/Nutcracker goers might want to familiarise themselves with the story ahead of the show or get hold of a programme at the theatre before they head to their seats. I found the programme was very helpful in pointing out ‘Things to Spot in the Nutcracker.’ While my friend had a wonderful experience without knowing the story ahead of time, doing a bit of homework and perusing the programme before the curtains opened saved me from feeling lost during the performance and made the whole experience more enjoyable.
The ballet runs at 1 hour 52 minutes, including one interval.
The Nutcracker is at Leeds Grand Theatre until 10th December 2023 (shows at 14:00 and 19:00). You wouldn’t want to miss this festive spectacle!
Tickets: https://leedsheritagetheatres.com/whats-on/nb-the-nutcracker-2023/
Main image: Dominique Larose as Sugar Plum Fairy. Photograph by Sophie Beth Jones.
