English National Ballet’s Nutcracker at Mayflower Southampton Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Jan Dixon
Truly sublime, magical and mesmerising!!!! I had the great honour of reviewing a performance of Nutcracker by the English National Ballet at Mayflower Theatre, Southampton on the night of Friday 29th November 2024. The last performances will be at 2pm and 7.30pm on Saturday 30th November 2024.
This is a brand-new production of Nutcracker by the English National Ballet, who have performing versions of the ballet since they started in 1950. It is set in Edwardian London and is the story of a young girl, Clara, who receives a Nutcracker doll as a present on Christmas Eve. Towards the end of the evening of festivities, Clara and her Nutcracker have a fantastic magical adventure.
The music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is instantly recognisable and performed to perfection by the English National Ballet Philharmonic Orchestra. Maria Seletskaja is the Musical Director, with Aaron S Watkin, Arielle Smith in charge of Choreography and Concept. The Set Costume Design was arranged by Dick Bird with Lighting and Design by Paul Pyant. Video Design was by Leo Flint and Illusion Design and Director was John Bullied. These amazing professionals are to be congratulated on the wonderful production they have collaborated on. I can honestly say this is the best ballet performance I have ever attended – excellent!
There are two Acts to the ballet, following a prologue exploring Drosselmeyer’s Workshop and Emporium of Sweets and Delights and a festive street market. This gave essential background information for the magic that followed. Act 1 is Stahlbaums’ Christmas Eve Party, where Clara Stahlbaum and her family entertain their family and friends. Clara is given a Nutcracker doll by Drosselmeyer, which she had admired in his shop earlier that day. There are sweets aplenty and Clara eats a magical sugar plum sweet which gives her visions of the Nutcracker coming to life.
She falls asleep and awakes at midnight to dream of a battle between the Nutcracker and a Rat King. Clara fatally injures the Rat King, whereupon the Nutcracker transforms into a handsome prince. So begins a fantastical journey where Clara and her prince travel on a sleigh into a winter Ice Realm. They meet the majestic Ice Queen and her Icicles and Snowflakes. The staging, special effects and lighting in all of these scenes were absolutely amazing and transported the audience into each of the different settings.
Act 2 is set in the Land of Sweets and Delights, where the Sugar Plum Fairy welcomes Clara and her prince to her fairydom. There is a showcase of sweet-themed dances relating to turron, sahlab, tanghulu, makivnyk, marzipan and liquorice allsorts. Dancers wore the most amazing costumes, depicting each of the sweets and were absolutely mesmerizing in their performance. Finally Clara wakes up back in her home on Christmas Day and imagines it all to be a dream, but notices that she is still wearing a necklace the Sugar Plum Fairy gave her.
Audible gasps of delight were heard as the scenes unfolded and the incredibly talented ballet dancers performed their parts so expertly. A pure delight for the senses!
The cast of ballet dancers came on at the end of the performance and were given hearty applause with many encores. They were warmly and enthusiastically applauded congratulated and vocally appreciated by the audience for an absolutely superb and flawless performance.
Running time is 2hrs, including one interval. Ticket Prices from £35.00. Mayflower Theatre, Commercial Road, Southampton, Hampshire SO15 1GE. Box Office 02380 711811. www.mayflower.org.uk.
This is very much worth a 5 star rating and I would urge you to take advantage of the opportunity of seeing this absolutely wonderful performance of Nutcracker at the Mayflower Theatre whilst you have the opportunity! You will leave the theatre totally overcome by the magically immersive performance you have just had the pleasure of being part of and indeed wake up the next day wondering if the amazing performance was part of your dreams.
In this performance the main protagonists were:
Clara (child) Delilah Wiggins
Clara (adolescent) Ivana Bueno
Drosselmeyer Junor Souza
Nutcracker Prince Francesco Gabriele Frola
Nutcracker Doll Rhys Antoni Yeomans
Sugar Plum Fairy / Mrs Stahlbaum Emma Hawes
Sugar Plum Cavalier / Dr Stahlbaum Aitor Arrieta
Isolde, Ice Queen / Clara’s eccentric aunt Anna Nevzorova
Rat King / Uromys Grimsewer the cheese broker James Streete
Rating: 5/5