Scottish Ballet: The Nutcracker review | Winter 2024 / 2025

Name: The Nutcracker
Brand: Scottish Ballet
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

Updated: 1 minute ago

Music: Tchaikovsky | Scottish Ballet Director & Choreographer: Christopher Hampson CBE

Theatre Royal, Glasgow | 19 December 2024

Amy McEntee in Scottish Ballet's The Nutcracker. Photo credit: Andy Ross

The Nutcracker | Scottish Ballet ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Classic Christmas ballet The Nutcracker has been revived and renewed by Scottish Ballet for the Winter 2024 / 2025 season. Under Christopher Hampson's creative direction, and with a team of accomplished choreographers at the helm, iconic scenes and illustrious dances have been given fresh, new life. From the lavish Christmas Eve party, to the sparkling snowflakes and the iconic dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, all the essential Nutcracker elements are here and have been elevated to new heights in a spectacular, stylish Scottish Ballet festive treat.

What is The Nutcracker about?

Colonel and Lady Stahlbaum's grand Christmas Eve party is interrupted when the magician Drosselmeyer arrives bearing gifts for the family. The gifts include a strange Nutcracker in the shape of a handsome prince which the Stahlbaum's young daughter Clara becomes attached to.

While Clara sleeps, her bedroom fills with giant mice searching for the nutcracker. Clara wakes, snatches back the nutcracker from the mice and watches in awe as Drosselmeyer brings the nutcracker to life. The Nutcracker Prince leads toy soldiers in a fierce battle against the evil King Rat and his army of mice.

As a reward, Drosselmeyer then sends Clara and the Prince on an enchanting journey to a land of snow and ice, and a land of sweets. There they meet the Snow Queen, the Sugar Plum Fairy and a magnificent series of magical characters.

Ava Morrison as Clara and Jamie Drummond as Fritz in Scottish Ballet's The Nutcracker. Photo credit: Andy Ross — Ava Morrison as Clara & Jamie Drummond as Fritz. Photo credit: Andy Ross

Scottish Ballet's The Nutcracker is an exceptional dance production. Lez Brotherston's sets and costumes are extraordinary. Beautiful, rich velvet curtains frame a full christmas tree in the sumptuous Drawing Room scenes. The company's costumes sparkle and enchant. The attention to detail is remarkable, and the overall, visual experience is one of absolute luxury and quality.

The set changes are jaw dropping in their proficiency. We go from the grand, jewel-toned New Years Eve party to the bright, white land of ice and snow in the time it takes to drag a curtain across the stage. It's jaw droppingly quick and impressive. The second time it happened, I was sure to count - it takes just over 30 seconds to transform the entire stage in complete silence behind a moving curtain. It's unfeasible and astonishing. The visual experience here is second to none. Bravo to the stage management team.

The Land of Ice and Snow is a beautiful icy wonderland. The Snow Queen and her icicles entertain as Clara and her Prince watch on. Then the scenery transforms yet again in the second act as the stage is filled with hundreds of christmas baubles. These act as a background for the five divertissements: the five different type of sweet-inspired dances we are treated to from across the globe.

Scottish Ballet's The Nutcracker. Photo credit: Andy Ross

The Nutcracker really is a series of beautiful dance vignettes against a background of stunning classic music. And the nature of the piece means that the sweets that Clara encounters are open to interpretation and modernisation. It's the ideal opportunity for dance companies to add their own personalities and geographic influences within the classic ballet.

In this 2024 / 2025 Nutcracker from Scottish Ballet we have a Chinese fan dance created in collaboration with specialist Annie Au; a new Spanish divert choreographed by Javier Andreu; Candy Cane Russian clowns choreographed by Sophie Laplane; delicious Bon Bons from France choreographed by Jessica Fyfe and an English sailor's hornpipe from the mind of Nicholas Shoesmith.

All of them are performed to the familiar notes of Tchaikovsky's renowned Nutcracker suite played by the magnificent Scottish Ballet Orchestra. Watching the 50-strong superb musicians play in the pit of the gorgeous Glasgow Theatre Royal adds to the memorable experience. The combination of exquisite music and dance on display here is world-class entertainment.

Junior Associates in Scottish Ballet's The Nutcracker. Photo credit: Andy Ross

Scottish Ballet’s company of fantastic dance artists are all superb. Taking the lead roles at the performance I saw, guest soloist from the Royal Ballet, Nicol Edmonds was the perfect Nutcracker Prince; and Gina Scott, Marge Hendrick and Melissa Polson from Scottish Ballet were all breathtaking, confident and captivating as The Snow Queen, The Sugar Plum Fairy and Drosselmeyer respectively. Junior associate Ava Morrison played Clara - the young girl through who's eye we witness the entire story. So poised and talented, she was never off the stage and looked perfectly at home in the middle of the massive Theatre Royal stage. An exceptional talent; The future of Scottish Ballet looks bright!

This is by far the best version of The Nutcracker I've ever seen. Scottish Ballet have outdone themselves with a spectacular revival of a classical music, dance and theatre masterpiece. Scottish Ballet's The Nutcracker is the perfect winter treat for the whole family and a contender for my favourite two hours in a theatre in 2024. Sublime.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Scottish Ballet's The Nutcracker is at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow from 6th until 30th December 2024 then tours to Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen and Newcastle. See full tour and ticket details here

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