Royal Ballet - at your Village Hall!

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker score was commissioned by the director of the Russian Imperial Theatres, following the resounding success of The Sleeping Beauty in 1890. Marius Petipa created the scenario – loosely based on a fairytale by E. T. A. Hoffman – and Lev Ivanov provided the choreography. The Nutcracker was first performed in 1892 at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg. It initially had a poor reception, but its combination of enchanting choreography and an unforgettable score have since made it one of the best-loved of all ballets.

See Fumi Kaneko, William Bracewell, Sae Maeda and Joseph Sissens star in Peter Wright's enchanting production of this festive classic. Recorded at the Royal Ballet in 2022 you can enjoy the highest quality ballet - without the travel and cost.

Ideal for ALL the family in the run up to the Festive Period.

The Story of The Nutcracker

The magician Drosselmeyer was once employed in a royal palace where he invented a trap that killed off half the mouse population. In revenge the Queen of the Mice cast a spell over Drosselmeyer’s nephew, Hans-Peter, which transformed him into an ugly Nutcracker doll. The only way to break the spell is for the Nutcracker to slay the Mouse King and for a young girl to love and care for him.

Act I

Drosselmeyer is invited to entertain the guests at the Stahlbaums’ Christmas party. For Clara’s Christmas present, he entrusts the Nutcracker to her care. After the party, when the house is asleep, Clara creeps downstairs in search of the Nutcracker and discovers Drosselmeyer waiting for her. He transforms the living room into a great battlefield and summons the Mouse King. In the ensuing fight between the mice and the toy soldiers led by the Nutcracker, the soldiers win, helped by Clara who saves the Nutcracker’s life. The Nutcracker is transformed back into Hans-Peter. He dances with Clara and they find themselves in the Land of Snow.

Act II

Drosselmeyer sends Clara and Hans-Peter on a magic journey to the Sugar Garden in the Kingdom of Sweets, where they meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince. Hans-Peter recounts his great adventure and how Clara saved his life. They join in a magnificent entertainment put on by Drosselmeyer to honour them for their bravery, with dances from a host of characters, flowers and even the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince. Returning home from the fantasy world, Clara runs out into the street in search of Drosselmeyer and encounters a strangely familiar young man. Back in his workshop Drosselmeyer prays that his efforts will be rewarded. His nephew returns – the spell has finally been broken.

Cast

• The Sugar Plum Fairy - Fumi Kaneko
• The Prince - William Bracewell
• Clara - Sae Maeda
• Hans-Peter/The Nutcracker - Joseph Sissens
• Herr Drosselmeyer - Bennet Gartside
• Conductor - Barry Wordsworth
• Concert Master - Sergey Levitin
• Orchestra - Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Event details

When : 15th December 2024

Tickets : £6 adults / £4 children - available from Tysoe Post Office or online.

Doors open : 2:00pm

Curtain up : 2.30pm

Duration : approximately two hours - to include a 15 minute interval

Drinks service : teas, coffees, soft drinks, squash, mulled wine, wine and beers

Content guidance : suitable for all