THE NUTCRACKER to Return to National Ballet of Japan

The  National  Ballet  of Japan has announced the return  of its production of The Nutcracker. This season, audiences of all ages are invited to enjoy 18 performances from  December 18 to January 3.

Following its premiere last season, this production choreographed by renowned British artist Will Tuckett blends authentic classical ballet with rich humor. Featuring stunning  designs by Colin Richmond, the stage  comes alive  with  a magical Christmas tree that grows before the audience’s eyes and a vibrant, pop-inspired Kingdom of Sweets.

Across the  18 performances, 7 pairs  of leading  dancers will  take  the  stage. In Act II, the Kingdom of Sweets unfolds to a succession of Tchaikovsky’s beloved melodies, including the “Waltz of the Flowers” and the “Dance of the Reed Flutes”.  With a diverse cast bringing their  own distinctive personalities and expressive artistry to the stage, audiences can  look forward to a performance full of delightful highlights.

To further enhance the festive  atmosphere,  a magnificent Christmas tree will adorn  the theatre foyer, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in the excitement of the holiday season. A day spent enjoying The Nutcracker, presented by the National Ballet of Japan, promises to become an unforgettable highlight of your winter holidays.

About The Nutcracker

It is Christmas Eve and there is excitement throughout the house. Dr and Mrs Stahlbaum and their children, the adolescent Clara and her younger, mischievous brother Fritz, prepare for their annual Christmas party. In the town, busy in his clockmaker’s workshop is Clara’s Godfather, Drosselmeyer. Alongside his assistant, he readies gifts for the Stahlbaum family and prepares magical entertainments for the guests that evening.

The party has begun; a grand affair with guests, old and young. All are excited to welcome Drosselmeyer and his assistant and whilst they make ready the entertainment, the Christmas tree is lit. Under the strict eye of the fierce dancing mistress,  entertainment, and the guests marvel at magic tricks, dancing automata, and a soldier doll who chases a puppet mouse. Drosselmeyer then gives the Stahlbaums their gifts and to his god-daughter Clara, a Nutcracker doll.

The housekeeper enters with her staff – they have prepared a Christmas banquet of every sweet and dessert one could wish for - the guests are delighted! The girls dance with their dolls. When a jealous Fritz accidentally breaks the Nutcracker, Clara is charmed by the assistant’s kindness. It is late and the guests leave. The assistant says he will return to fix Clara’s Nutcracker. The doll is carefully placed in Clara’s Dollhouse, and all go to bed.

The house sleeps. Clara creeps downstairs to check on her Nutcracker but is terrorised by giant mice. Drosselmeyer appears and scares them away. As Midnight strikes the room begins to magically change. Now a giant Christmas tree towers over a life-size fort and dollhouse, where a battle ensues between the Queen rat and her mice troops, and toy soldiers led by the courageous Nutcracker. The Nutcracker is injured by the Queen, but Clara bravely saves the day. The mice now defeated, Drosselmeyer transforms the stricken Nutcracker into a Prince, and alongside Clara they dance to a land of snowflakes. The snow dances and whirls around them until a sled appears to take them onwards on their journey.

Leaving the land of Snowflakes, Drosselmeyer leads them on a journey across a sea of chocolate to the Kingdom of Sweets. Welcomed by the Kingdom’s Head Confectioner, Clara is crowned  as The Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker as her Prince. All the Kingdom of Sweets now celebrate; dancing Jellies to jumping popcorn, drifting candy floss to performing sugar canes, waltzing fondant flowers to dancing chocolatiers. Clara as Sugar Plum Princess, dances with her Prince and the Kingdom celebrates. Clara must return home. She and Drosselmeyer are waved off by the court, and soon she is fast asleep.