The Nutcracker At Lighthouse Poole Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Lisa
My daughter loves dancing and I was so excited to take her and my mum to see The Nutcracker, which is being performed at Poole Lighthouse by the Mergaliyev Classical Ballet. My daughter has only seen Swan Lake before so this was a relatively new experience for her, and we were so excited as we entered the theatre. There’s something about this ballet that feels like stepping into a memory for me as well, as I remember going with my mum and Gran when I was a child. I was keen to see how they would keep this sense of nostalgia many of us must have, while keeping a fresh feel to it.
The opening party scene set the tone straight away. The dancers playing the children were full of life, playing with their new Christmas toys and one another, whilst the adults brought a sense of elegance to the scene. Clara stood out immediately. She was a natural and was simply reacting to everything around her and so we were drawn in to the performance.
The shift into the dream was handled very carefully. The lighting changed, the music deepened, and the Christmas tree grew to provide the effect of her shrinking as we stepped through a doorway with Clara in to her dream world. The battle with the Rat King was more playful than frightening, but it still had enough energy to keep my daughter and others in the audience leaning forward trying to take it all in. We got a shock when the cannon went off which made everyone laugh, especially as they tried to resuscitate the Rat King – a part I can’t remember being in the performance in the past! The Nutcracker’s movements were sharp and intentional, along with the doll, and they danced this in a believable way that secured the whole scene.
We were then in to Act 2, which brought the familiar parade of character dances. All were danced well, but we especially enjoyed the Russian dance, where my daughter counted 17 pirouettes in a row! They had so much energy we felt out of breath watching them!
The Grand Pas de Deux between Clara and the Nutcracker was simply beautiful. What made it memorable wasn’t just the technique but the connection between them. My daughter’s face lit up with amazement as Clara ran towards him and jumped landing on his shoulder! Both were amazing dancers, as were the whole cast. The only slight criticism I could give is they weren’t always completely in sync – but I’m sure that is very difficult to accomplish!
The scenery was simple but clever, and we liked the snowflakes falling – and the confetti at the end! The costumes were also beautiful, especially Clara’s when she becomes a princess.
The performance was in two halves, each lasting for 45 minutes, and there was a 20 minute interval, where we bought delicious ice creams. There is also a bar where you can buy drinks and bring them in with you, along with other snacks. We love this theatre as it has a family and community feel to it not being too large, but still has the space needed. It is also easy to park locally or walk from the train station.
This production didn’t try to reinvent The Nutcracker, but honestly, it didn’t need to. It offered beauty, warmth, and was quite captivating – exactly what we came hoping for. We had a lovely family outing which will be in our memories together, and I would definitely recommend this to others, especially at this time of year!
Rating: 4/5
Price: Between £24 – £51.50
The Nutcracker is at The Lighthouse, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset. BH15 1UG from 17th-18th January. To book tickets please visit www.lighthousepoole.co.uk or ring the box office on 01202 28000.