The Nutcracker

Overview

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.

Keywords

Cast

Lesley Collier

Sugar Plum Fairy

Anthony Dowell

Sugar Plum Fairy's Prince

Michael Coleman

Drosselmeyer

Julie Rose

Clara

Guy Niblett

Nutcracker / Hans-Peter

Sandra Conley

Mrs. Stahlbaum