The Nutcracker - Review

London Coliseum, London

****

Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Choreographed by Aaron S. Watkin and Arielle Smith

The English National Ballet

In a gorgeous display of Christmas tradition, the English National Ballet bring Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker to the London Coliseum for the holiday season. Aaron S. Watkin and Arielle Smith co-choreograph the piece to deliver an evening of stunning dance, music and spectacle.

The fairytale dream of the story is beautifully realised by the ballet’s company and creatives. A roster of children dance as the young Clara. On the night of this review, Delilah Wiggins was on stage, and as she fell into a deep sleep following a beautifully danced party, Ivana Bueno took over the role of the adolescent Clara, with Paulo Rodrigues playing the Nutcracker Prince who whisks her off to the enchanted Land of Sweets and Delights. Their departure, flying off in a magical sleigh drawn by a seahorse, was but one of the ballet’s stunning design touches from Dick Bird.

Act two plays out entirely in the land of sweets, where Bird has created a staging that is as visually satisfying as a box of chocolates! All sorts of confection from around the world are danced to Tchaikovsky’s timeless tunes with a corps of Wiggins’s juniors, all from the Adagio School of Dance performing a great routine as the contents of a box of Ballet’s Liquorice Allsorts. The Nutcracker's melodies of course remain a reminder of just how much the Russian composer’s music has imprinted itself onto our consciousness.

Bird’s visuals along with Leo Flint’s video designs are breathtaking, and as Sangeun Lee brings the evening’s ballet-work to a crescendo with her Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy, the moment is exquisite.

Technically wonderful, and with the English National Ballet Philharmonic under the baton of Maria Seletskaja sounding delectable, The Nutcracker is a fabulous festive treat.

Runs until 11th January 2026

Photo credit: Johan Persson

Nutcracker - Review

Coliseum, London


****


Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreographed by Wayne Eagling

One of the best-loved ballets, Nutcracker returns to London’s Coliseum and is a real festive treat from start to finish. 

Wayne Eagling’s lavish production for the English National Ballet, which premiered in 2010, is set on Christmas Eve. A young Clara is enjoying her parents’ Christmas party, where she is gifted a Nutcracker doll by her godfather Drosselmeyer, toymaker and magician, and shares a dance with his nephew. Later that night she dreams of an enchanted world with Nutcracker, who becomes Drosselmeyer’s nephew, the evil Mouse King and his army, and the Sugar Plum Fairy and her prince. 

Tchaikovsky’s score is brought to life by the English National Ballet Philharmonic Orchestra and is paired with fine performances from members of the English National Ballet. Rina Kanehara is graceful and elegant as adult Clara, and shares brilliant chemistry with both Fernando Carratalá Coloma as the Nutcracker and Jeffrey Cirio as Drosselmeyer’s nephew. The Sugar Plum Fairy’s pas de deux with Cirio was one of the show’s highlights. Credit must also go to the young performers from Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, sure to be stars of the future, particularly the young Clara and Freddie, danced by Sophie Carter and Oscar Williams respectively.

This Christmas classic is a feast for the eyes thanks to the spectacular set and a wealth of stunning costumes courtesy of Peter Farmer, including the Sugar Plum Fairy’s beautiful Swarovski-studded tutu. It’s a somewhat dark production at times, with the evil Mouse King making his presence known even in the second act, but there are warm moments tinged with humour, notably during a winter scene complete with snowball fights and ice skating mishaps. It is in the second act that the production really comes into its own, with dances from around the world followed by the Waltz of the Flowers all showcasing the talents of the English National Ballet. 

At times it does get confusing with the Nutcracker and Dr Drosselmeyer’s nephew switching back and forth, particularly for younger members of the audience, and a slight niggle is that the hideous Mouse King does outstay his welcome in Act II. That said, Nutcracker is a charming and enchanting production sure to entertain and inspire people of all ages. 

There may be three versions of Nutcracker on in London this Christmas, but a standout company of dancers, magnificent score and the lavish surroundings of London’s Coliseum all combine to ensure that this festive treat is not-to-be-missed!

Booking until 29th December

Reviewed by Kirsty Herrington

Nutcracker – The Motion Picture (1986) – Review

****

Directed by Carroll Ballard

It is Christmas Eve and festivities are underway. Clara (Vanessa Sharp) eagerly awaits the arrival of her godfather (Hugh Bigney) who always brings with him the most exciting gifts and toys. She is captivated by a beautiful castle, complete with dancing dolls inside. But what most intrigues her is a wooden nutcracker prince, which she returns to inspect after the party has ended and which sends her into a dream world. 

This 1986 production by the Pacific Northwest Ballet and staged amidst a wonderful Maurice Sendak designed set, comes to DVD for the first time this Christmas, making Tchaikovsky’s classic accessible to fans across the world. 

Narration by the older Clara, who is recounting the dream that she had, provides an insightful analysis into the rationale behind the dream and its characters – a clever technique used by Ballard. 

The dream sequence moves at pace and builds with a dizzying flurry of performances, each with their own distinct identity. The costuming deserves special mention in supporting this, with a broad range of colours and textures used to complement the narrative. The set design is also wonderful; a particular highlight is when the waves of the sea are brought to life with moving set pieces and a boat, carrying Clara and the Nutcracker, crosses the water. 

What makes the Nutcracker particularly memorable is that the dark undertones of the story – such as the nature of the relationship between Clara and her godfather, Clara and her brother, and Clara’s parents – are explored in this production. They are also nicely introduced at the very beginning of the film, when a sense of foreboding is made clear to the audience from the outset. 

Dance highlights include the Peacock’s Dance (Maia Rosal), the Waltz of the Flowers (including a stellar performance by Lucinda Hughey) and the Dance of the Snowflakes, complete with snow. Performances by Patricia Barker – playing the dream Clara and the ballerina doll – and the Nutcracker Prince (Wade Walthall) are also excellent. The production certainly utilises some of the best film techniques that were available at the time, but given technology’s advance, today’s wired young viewers may possibly expect a little more. 

This Nutcracker certainly offers an opportunity to view the skill and discipline required by each dancer. And whilst the awe-inspiring effect of seeing such a production live on stage is arguably lost in a recording, who knows… it may inspire a visit to the ballet 

Nutcracker: The Motion Picture is now available on DVD