What a Nutcracker!

Birmingham Royal Ballet artists. Photo credit Johan Persson.

From 22 November until 14 December 2024. Sir Peter Wrights' Nutcracker, composed by Tchaikovsky. Performed by the Birmingham Royal Ballet at the Birmingham Hippodrome.

Review by Ann Cee

Without question, this is the show that will gild my 2024 festive season with memories that will last a lifetime - Sir Peter Wright's 'Nutcracker' is a sumptuously fun, gloriously graceful and darkly delightful fiesta of a ballet and I want to go again and again.

Callum Findlay-White as the Rat King. Photo credit Johan Persson.

With a sixty strong orchestra (conducted by Thomas Jung) swirling us through this magical tale, I could have lost myself in Tchaikovsky's clarinets and flutes forever as they seem to have been conjured from another realm.

Yu Kurihara as the Snow Fairy. Photo credit Johan Persson.

Every aspect of this show is simply gorgeous, from the glorious warmth of the opening set to the crisp, white land of snowflakes and ice, the first act transports us to other worlds in a non- stop feast of wit and wonder for the heart and mind.

Daria Stanciulescu as Clara's Mother. Photo credit Johan Persson.

Sofia Linares is sublime as the lovely Clara, able to transition from delicate, young girl to fearless heroine to elegant, romantic lead and is well matched with the divine Yasiel Hodelin Bello as the Prince. Bello is a hero in every way in this production, seemingly immune to gravity as he glides over the floor and with pecs of steel as he showcases Clara and the sugar plum fairy before taking the well-deserved, spotlight himself. Bravo Bello!

Eilis Small in the Arabian Dance. Photo credit Johan Persson.

Bello makes a beautiful pair with Celine Gittens - a wow of a Sugar Plum Fairy - who does pirouettes and balances that are out of this world exceptional. 'Wow' is the only word for their second half dance (although the man in the audience behind me kept muttering 'bloody hell' in complete awe).

Sofia Linares as Clara. Photo credit Johan Persson.

Magic was also to be had in the second half with a jaw dropping, Arabian dance that literally took my breath away - hats off all the way to Eilis Small (five gold stars!), Jack Easton, August Generalli, and Mason King. I have never seen this magnificence and ambition in Nutcracker before. It was awesome.

Gus Payne as the Magician's Assistant. Photo credit Johan Persson.

The Jack in the Box (Ryan Felix) was about as springy and fun as a body could be and together, the whole company were truly terrific with so many stand out performances.

Velvet gowns, capes and drapes were very much in abundance, creating a wonderful air of luxurious, fairytale fantasy.