Review: The Nutcracker, Northern Ballet, Leeds Grand Theatre, Tuesday 20th December 2022

NORTHERN Ballet’s sparkling production of the Nutcracker has returned from a national tour to the company’s home theatre. What a timely gift of festive family fun.

The magical story is set on Christmas Eve as Clara (danced by Rachel Gillespie) and Frederic (Filippo Di Vilio) imagine the thrills in store for them. Clara’s mystical Uncle Drossmeyer (Gavin McCaig) arrives with a huge box, out of which step two life-size dancing ‘dolls’. Herr Drossmeyer then produces an extra gift of a small wooden toy soldier with an ability to crack nuts. The toy becomes a handsome Prince (Harris Beattie) who accompanies Clara on her journey to the realm of the menacing Mouse King (Bruno Serraclara) and an enchanted garden of delights. There are beautiful Arabian Princesses, Russian Cossacks, French ballet dancers, exotic flowers, and the famous Sugar Plum Fairy (Saeka Shirai) with her Cavalier (Jonathan Hanks). They all dance in Clara’s honour.

Inured as we are to instantaneous special effects on our digital devices, nothing quite matches the frisson of wonderment created by scenic transformations live on stage. Especially when such transformations are aided by Northern Ballet’s vivid storytelling style. It is inhabited by every single dancer, in perfect harmony with Tchaikovsky’s glorious music. The great composer’s most descriptive ballet score is beautifully revealed in shimmering detail by the Northern Ballet Sinfonia. The orchestra of forty players is conducted by Northern Ballet music director Jonathan Lo.

Wharfedale Observer: The Nut Cracker. Image courtesy of Northern BalletThe Nut Cracker. Image courtesy of Northern Ballet

A jam packed house erupted in ecstatic applause as the orchestra and dancers took their curtain calls after last Tuesday’s opening performance. Northern Ballet’s Nutcracker runs at Leeds Grand until Saturday 7th January.

All performances are dedicated to the memory of former Leeds City Councillor and Northern Ballet chairman, Bernard Atha CBE. Bernard was instrumental in establishing the company in Leeds back in the 1990s.