The Nutcracker

Sir Peter Wright’s 1984 version of The Nutcracker for The Royal Ballet, still performed by the Company, stays close to Hoffmann’s original tale. It emphasises Drosselmeyer’s mission to find a young girl – Clara – who can break the curse imposed by the Mouse King on his nephew Hans Peter and thus restore him to human form. References to Nuremberg and German Christmas traditions are present in the settings, with a kingdom of marzipan featured in Act 2.

Director: John Vernon

Cast: Lesley Collier, Anthony Dowell, Michael Coleman, Julie Rose, Guy Niblett, Sandra Conley

Audience-only score — full critic data not yet in the ReelXO vault.