The Nutcracker Archives - North West End UK

7Dec

By Maani WayNo Comments

London

The Nutcracker – Turbine Theatre

This very adult pantomime is far from the beloved ballet with the same name. Bursting with adult humour and raucous fun, this ‘anything but sweet’ version of The Nutcracker opens at the Turbine Theatre for a limited run this Christmas. Written by Joshua Coley (Elf the Musical), the show begins with our protagonist, Carly (Holly Ashman) who has gone through it this year, let’s put it that way. Her relationship ended abruptly (for better or for worse as we soon find out), her father passed away suddenly when he was caught in an outlandish collision with a Just Stop Oil protest, and her Mum is adamant about hosting her annual festive gathering in attempt to stick to the norm. With a surprise visit from her uncle, Carly receives the iconic Nutcracker doll, which soon turns out to be the...

30Nov

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Nutcracker – Leeds Grand Theatre

After enduring endless plays of Merry Xmas Everyone trundling round the shops you know the festive season is finally here when Northern Ballet stage their annual extravaganza. This year The Nutcracker is back, and once again you have that feeling they’ve run into the props store and gone a bit mad to produce a lavish winter wonderland. David Nixon’s colourful and stylish costumes probably caused a national shortage of sequins and taffeta. It’s a wonderfully bonkers fairy tale as a mysterious magician sends ingénue Clara off on a surreal journey where she survives a battle between giant mice and life size toy soldiers, before being magically transported to a wintery wonderland where meets her Nutcracker Prince. It’s all beautifully realised by designer Charles Cusick Smith who works ...

The Turbine Theatre is ashamed to present The Nutcracker: A Very Adult Pantomime

14Oct

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

The Turbine Theatre is ashamed to present The Nutcracker: A Very Adult Pantomime

Forget what you think you know about the Christmas classic, and this year be taken to distant lands (like Winter Wonderland…and M&M World!) by way of the Turbine Theatre. For a limited time, this Christmas, audiences will get to enjoy the very adult pantomime, The Nutcracker. Written by Joshua Coley (Elf The Musical, The Wind In The Willows), this new pantomime is, for audiences 18+, the perfect Christmas tale about learning to love after heartbreak …and seeking revenge. Carlie’s had a terrible year: her love rat ex has ghosted her, her father died in a collision with a Just Stop Oil protest and now her Mum is insistent on still throwing their annual festive party. A typical year in the 2020’s some may say, but thanks to a prezzie from her inappropriate, local drunk uncle - ...

The Nutcracker dances his way to Leeds Grand for a feast of dance

14Oct

By NewsdeskNo Comments

NEWS

The Nutcracker dances his way to Leeds Grand for a feast of dance

Northern Ballet’s acclaimed version of The Nutcracker returns home to Leeds Grand Theatre this November after its hugely successful run last year. It’s the classic tale of Clara and her wooden Nutcracker doll that is much more than it seems. As the clock strikes midnight Clara finds herself being whisked away on a magical adventure through a winter wonderland filled with dancing snowflakes and a whole host of colourful characters. Photo: Kyle Baines The Nutcracker is the perfect introduction to classical ballet that has something for everyone, from the iconic dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy to an epic battle between the Nutcracker Prince and the villainous Mouse King. The ballet is set to Tchaikovsky's iconic music that is played live by the Northern Ballet Sinfonia. &nbs...

<strong>The Nutcracker – Leeds Grand Theatre</strong>

21Dec

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Nutcracker – Leeds Grand Theatre

Northern Ballet’s festive spectacular is their annual thank you to the city which they call home and has supported them to become a world class company. It’s also had the feel of an onstage office Xmas do where the dancers, creatives, musicians and technical teams really let rip in a production that is always epic in scale, and often gloriously over the top. The Nutcracker with its surreal, dreamy narrative, and Tchaikovsky’s familiar score, is the perfect vehicle as naïve young rich girl Clara is given an introduction into another world by a mysterious magician Drosselmeyer, who gives her a toy nutcracker that in classic fairy tale fashion turns into a handsome prince. Charles Cusick Smith’s massive sets from an opulent country house to a wonderfully realised winter fantas...

Northern Ballet’s festive spectacular The Nutcracker is back again this winter

3Oct

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

NEWS

Northern Ballet’s festive spectacular The Nutcracker is back again this winter

Northern Ballet are back this winter with their traditional festive spectacular The Nutcraker as one child’s Christmas magical dreams come true. The company will open at Woking New Victoria Theatre on Thursday 10th November and tour to Nottingham Theatre Royal, Norwich Theatre Royal and Hull New Theatre before arriving at Leeds Grand Theatre for their now traditional three week run over the Christmas period. In the midst of a festive party, as the fire crackles and the pile of presents grows ever higher, Clara is caught up in the warmth and excitement of Christmas and becomes enthralled by her new Nutcracker doll. But, as the clock strikes midnight, her Nutcracker proves to be no ordinary toy. After saving her Nutcracker from the wily Mouse King, Clara is whisk...

Matthew Bourne’s The Nutcracker – Birmingham Hippodrome

9Feb

By Annette NuttallNo Comments

West Midlands

Matthew Bourne’s The Nutcracker – Birmingham Hippodrome

It may be February, but it is never too late to catch this superb production of The Nutcracker. First of all, take everything you know about The Nutcracker, screw it up and throw it out of the window. This ballet is like no other version you have seen before. Matthew Bourne has taken the family favourite (and the version he first created 30 years ago) and given it a very colourful make over. The basic story of Clara and her toy is there, but it opens in an orphanage rather than a lavish house. She is still transported away to a fantasy world of ice and then sweets, but the national dances have been replaced by ones representing confectionery. Unlike the usual version there is a story being told throughout, the second half has more of a purpose than just a showcase for different styl...

Northern Ballet announce 10 city autumn tour

24Jan

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

NEWS

Northern Ballet announce 10 city autumn tour

Northern Ballet have announced a 10 city autumn tour will visit 10 cities revising The Little Mermaid and The Nutcracker, plus a première of new work Three Short Ballets 2022. The season will open with performances of Three Short Ballets 2022 at Leeds Playhouse featuring three world premières by choreographers Dickson Mbi, Stina Quagebeur and Mthuthuzeli November. This new work will also be performed at the Linbury Theatre in London in October / November. Throughout September and October, The Little Mermaid will tour to Sheffield, Belfast, Southampton and Newcastle. This timeless classic fairy tale was David Nixon's last full-length work for the Company before announcing his retirement as Artistic Director in 2020. Photo: Emma Kauldhar It’s set to a Celtic-inspired scor...

Matthew Bourne’s The Nutcracker – The Lowry

25Nov

By Max EdenNo Comments

North West

Matthew Bourne’s The Nutcracker – The Lowry

It’s endearing, magical and delicious - all in equal measure! Matthew Bourne’s The Nutcracker returns to the stage after almost 10 years delivering a show-stopping performance which engages all the senses and is a must see this festive season! It’s fascinating to witness such a reinvigorated and new adaptation of this traditional ballet; the score remains traditional but the costumes, the sets and the stage presence makes it something totally renewed and fresh and anything but traditional! I particularly loved the mise-en-scene of this reboot; starting with the stripped back - dark and cold orphanage for its opening scene and doing away with the grandeur of the traditional ‘throw everything we’ve got at it’ type of opening; it draws you in to the story and makes the transition to...

The Nutcracker at Birmingham Repertory Theatre to be Live Streamed

11Dec

By Paul DownhamNo Comments

NEWS

The Nutcracker at Birmingham Repertory Theatre to be Live Streamed

Following news of Birmingham’s Tier 3 status last week, and ongoing uncertainty about what will be possible post 16th December, Birmingham Royal Ballet has taken the difficult decision to move their 2020 adapted version of The Nutcracker online. The magical Christmas production will be streamed live from The Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Friday 18th December at 7.30pm, giving audiences an experience as close to watching it live in the theatre as is possible. Birmingham Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker at The REP will be available to watch as a livestream event at 7.30pm on Friday 18th December. It will then be available to view as a video-on-demand recording from Saturday 19th to Thursday 24th December. Video-on-demand sales close at midnight on 21st December but can be view...