The Nutcracker At The Bristol Old Vic Review

Reviewed by Victoria Wingrove

The moment we stepped into the foyer of the Bristol Old Vic it felt like Christmas. With a beautiful tree set back into the corner, twinkling fairy lights spaced cleverly around the room, and an energetic buzz, the venue was both warm and welcoming.

After collecting our tickets from the Box Office, we made our way to the bar where we were greeted by friendly bar staff who served our drinks and snacks quickly and efficiently. We didn’t arrive early enough for food however the menu looked good and the plates that passed us by looked even better. We will definitely allow extra time for this on our next visit.

The theatre itself is small and intimate, and regardless of where you sit you should have a good view of the stage. We were fortunate enough to be in the front row of the Upper Circle looking directly down on the performance which was a great position.

The set starts off fairly simply with a large chalkboard backdrop, a Christmas tree and a few boxes scattered around, but as the performance develops the stage grows into a well thought out and carefully constructed vision of cogs and clockfaces by set designer Tom Rogers.

This performance is not your traditional version of The Nutcracker and there is no ballet or sugar plum fairy’s. The story has been wittily re-written by Tom Morris and brilliantly directed by Lee Lyford into a show that is entertaining, comical and a little bit bonkers! Set on Christmas Eve, it tells the story of Claire who is feeling ignored by her disinterested and busy family. When clockmaker Mr Choke arrives at the house bringing gifts for them all, the story takes you on a strange and magical adventure where toys come to life and work together to overcome a seven-headed Mouse King. It finishes with a heart-warming reconnection between Claire, her brother, and her parents. It contains humour, dance, and music, all the makings of a great Christmas show.

The cast of this fun and quirky play are wonderfully talented actors, dancers, and musicians, and the imaginative costumes of the toys were a delight. A special mention has to go to Tristian Sturrock as Mr Choke, for his engaging performance and overall stage presence, and to Gwyneth Herbert as Queen Mouse for her incredible vocals, and Denzel Baidoo as The Nutcracker for his dance moves, though the entire cast came together perfectly.

There is great movement and rhythm throughout the production, and you could really feel the motion of time, with well written music and lyrics by Gwyneth Herbert.

The final song of the show was a fabulous, foot tapping, engaging ensemble that had the audience clapping along and sent everyone home with a wonderful dose of festive cheer.

The theatre describes the production as ‘a Christmas family blockbuster’ and that is exactly what it is. It has something for adults and children alike and is highly recommended.

Rating: 5/5

Recommended age 7+.

The Nutcracker is running at the Bristol Old Vic until Saturday 7th January 2023. In addition to the standard performances, the theatre offers a variety of assisted performances for audience members requiring additional support, and those that prefer a more relaxed environment with a gentler volume and the house lights on.

Tickets from £10, no booking fees apply.

For more information or to book tickets please visit www.bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/the-nutcracker. Alternatively, the box office can be contacted on 0117 987 7877 and is open Monday to Saturday from 1pm – 6pm.

The Bristol Old Vic, King Street, Bristol, BS1 4ED

Photo credit: Geraint Lewis.