Carlos Acosta’s Nutcracker in Havana – Sheffield Lyceum

The Nutcracker is inextricably linked to the Christmas season; a young girl, Clara, receives a gift of a nutcracker doll and as she sleeps, the doll transforms into a handsome prince and draws her into a world of adventure and fantasy.

This version of that classic tale, Nutcracker in Havana, is transported into a Cuban setting by renowned Cuban ballet dancer Carlos Acosta, here serving as artistic director and choreographer. The show opened with a swirling video-projected tour of the streets of Havana which really helped to set the scene and highlight the changes from the off. However, as someone who suffers with quite severe motion sickness, I did struggle a little and I would have liked to have known that before it started!

Acosta has cleverly woven aspects of Cuban culture and dance into this classic story, in scenes, dance styles, costume and music. The company and creative team have wholeheartedly embraced his vision and together they present a passionate letter of love to Cuba that really drew me in and swept me along.

I really enjoyed the musical arrangements and compositions by Yasel Munoz, that respectfully held Tchaikovsky’s original score at their heart while weaving in modern instruments and Cuban rhythms. Additionally, the inclusion of Cuban chancleta dancing felt organic and gave a real taste of Cuban culture and invoked the Latin feeling of fiesta in an interesting way.

Companies such as Acosta’s have successfully developed a more theatricalised style of ballet, which newcomers to ballet may well find helpful. As a longtime lover of both ballet and dramatic theatre, I really appreciated this intersection here. The stylised performance of the older members of the community in the opening family scenes and the relationship between Clara and her brother Fritz showed this off well, and made the story easy to follow, even in this translated form.

Every element of the production has been so carefully put together, with the movement of the on-set curtains complementing the movements of the dancers, and the lighting – particularly in the final scene of Act 1 – making the snowy landscape seem otherworldly. The creative team of Nina Dunn (set), Andrew Exeter (lighting) and Angelo Alberto (costume) should be commended.

However, a ballet is nothing without its company, and Acosta has brought together an incredible group of dancers that executed his complex and innovative vision well. Adria Díaz as Clara, Brandy Martínez as Fritz/Russian Dancer, Dani Hernandez as the Prince, Alexander Verona as Drosselmeyer, and Annette Delgado as the Sugar Plum Fairy each deserve a mention, but the whole company should be celebrated for their performances. While not perfect at every turn, the passion demonstrated by every dancer on stage shone brightly.

This performance will delight traditional ballet lovers and those seeking a more theatrical style alike, as well as people seeking a little dash of Cuban passion in a cold Yorkshire winter. It was definitely worth braving the snow for this experience!

Nutcracker in Havana continues at the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield until Saturday 10^th January. More details and ticket information can be found on the website: https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/  The tour then continues around the country until February 2026.

Reviewer: Jo Tillotson

Reviewed: 7^th January 2026

North West End UK Rating: