Shortened Nutcracker dances into Birmingham REP

Published: 29 October 2020
Reporter: Steve Orme

“Something to look forward to”: The Nutcracker

Birmingham Royal Ballet and Birmingham REP are to present a new adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker at Christmas 2020—the first time the family favourite will have visited the theatre.

The full-length production of The Nutcracker will be shortened to 80 minutes, “retaining all the enchanting moments and characters”. Tchaikovsky’s score will be performed live by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia. The show will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Birmingham Royal Ballet's original Birmingham Hippodrome production being created as a gift for the city.

The production will feature Peter Wright's choreography which was adapted by David Bintley for a production at the Royal Albert Hall. Direction will be by Birmingham Royal Ballet director Carlos Acosta and the REP's artistic director Sean Foley.

Acosta said, “we’re so happy that audiences in Birmingham and the West Midlands can have something to look forward to this Christmas. The Nutcracker is an essential part of our annual season and we can't wait to welcome audiences back to the REP for this celebration.”

The show will be especially created to enable appropriate 'social distancing' and to ensure the safety of all performers, technical crew and audience members. A second corps de ballet of students and recent graduates from Birmingham’s Elmshurst Ballet School and the Royal Ballet School will perform the snow scene.

The Nutcracker will run at the REP from Monday 14 until Tuesday 22 December. The full production will be performed the Royal Albert Hall from Wednesday 30 December until Saturday 2 January 2021.

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