Lovingly recreated for audiences, Scottish Ballet proudly presents Peter Darrell’s The Nutcracker, touring winter 2014/15. Read more …
Crafted for Scotland by the company’s founding Artistic Director, a famous story-teller and an incredible dance-maker, this Nutcracker is full of magical memories. And now audiences can share this dream-making production with families and friends once more, over 40 years since it first premiered.
Peter Darrell’s magical world of The Nutcracker has been reimagined by Olivier Award winning designer Lez Brotherston, adding sumptuous layers of plush Victoriana and traditional festive fare to the original 1973 production.
The Scottish Ballet Orchestra accompanies live, performing the world famous Tchaikovsky score.
Everything about this production glittered and shimmered with the highest quality, but it was Brotherston’s design that was the real star of this show, giving a great performance a dusting of some proper Christmas sparkle.
As a piece of Christmas entertainment, this ticks many of the right boxes and will surely delight a large proportion of the audience. However, a lack of rigour and some technical faults mean that real magic remains in short supply.
The Nutcracker is an exquisite confection of a production, filled with visual splendour which conjures up a memorable festive experience that truly delights.
In short, this is a ballet unafraid to embrace tradition, acknowledging that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
The company’s performance, much of it en pointe, in parts lacks precision and spice, particularly in the spacing and pacing of some second-half set pieces, but full assurance of execution will surely build swiftly on tour. An endearing, beautiful, moonlit experience: a production to be savoured.
Verdict: Scottish Ballet sparkles up its founder’s Christmas party piece in an overly reverential production.
This is a production that does not know what it wants to be. It’s not pushing any boundaries but it’s technically excellent and very pleasing to the eye. The strength and dedication of the dancers are unquestionable. I just wish The Nutcracker Prince would smile a bit more.
The result is a production as rich to the eyes as a box of tissue-wrapped chocolates.
Scottish Ballet: The Nutcracker
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh from Saturday December 13, 2014, until Saturday January 3, 2015. More info: http://www.edtheatres.com/festival
Theatre Royal, Glasgow from Wednesday January 7, 2015, until Saturday January 10, 2015. More info: www.theambassadors.com/theatreroyalglasgow/
His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen from Wednesday January 14, 2015, until Saturday January 17, 2015. More info: www.hmtaberdeen.com
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness from Wednesday January 21, 2015, until Saturday January 24, 2015. More info: www.eden-court.co.uk