Review: Northern Ballet’s The Nutcracker brings Christmas magic to Leeds Grand Theatre

The Nutcracker is a festive fairy tale that has enchanted audiences for generations upon generations. Yet, Northern Ballet’s take on the tale, directed and choreographed by David Nixon CBE feels like the story is being told for the first time. Rachael Gillespie’s animated performance of young Clara makes it easy to believe that she is a child newly introduced to this wonder-filled world, even though the ballerina has played the role many times before. Following her lead, we likewise are awestruck by the action.

Another addition to the charm is the inclusion of students from the Northern Ballet’s Open and Advanced Training programmes who play both mischievous mice and party guests. These young faces are ever the professionals on stage but you still feel their excitement from being part of the production. Whatever age you may be, it’s joyous to see them shine.

For me, a stand out moment in this Nutcracker production is the entrance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, played by Saeka Shirai. She captivates the audience as she dances with graceful beauty. Her ethereality is empowered through her costume which glistens with every move. It’s not only her attire though which gleams; the wardrobe department have done a fantastic job in making the costumes in the show visually stunning. There are tutus that look like they are made out of flower petals, soldier’s uniforms that are bold and bright, and even a fun Mouse King costume that fully caves into the humour of the show.

Meanwhile, the set design appears to be assembled with materials taken from a magician’s toolkit. At first, we move back in time to the elegance of 17th century England, a fitting setting considering Leeds Grand Theatre’s own regency roots. Then, we move to a new otherworldly place which the staging makes it is easy to believe is real. As snow falls on stage and dancers show from toy boxes you’d never think they would fit in, you become fully immersed in the fantasy. Harry Skoupas who plays Uncle Drosselmeyer adds to this feeling also with his enchanting eccentricity as he bends reality with the whirl of a wand. As stage magic mixes with strong characterisation, watching The Nutcracker is like dreaming with your eyes open.

Yet, there’s a moment at the start of the second act where the set is simplified and our ballet dancers move against a black backdrop, but our fascination doesn’t falter. The reason for this is that the magic of The Nutcracker, though aided by props, is crafted from choreography. In this show, the cast move en pointe not only effortlessly but as if it was the way humans were always meant to move. They dance in synchronicity like they are puppets all pulled by the same string, and lift each other up as easily as you or I could lift a feather. Witnessing this is what left me in my seat wonderstruck by the capability of ballet dancers.

Northern Ballet’s The Nutcracker is romantic, whimsical, and funny too. It’s a show that reminds you of the power of childhood imagination where the realms of possibility were endless. It’s at times dangerous, at others, dream-like, but consistently it is a triumph. As the curtain fell, I wished I could rewind time and watch the show from the start again.

The Nutcracker runs at Leeds Grand Theatre until January 4.

To buy tickets, visit the Leeds Heritage Theatres website.