The Nutcracker at the REP

The Nutcracker at The REP

Music Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Arranged by Rowland Lee Original Choreography Peter Wright, Lev Ivanov, Vincent Redmon Adaptation David Bintley Production Carlos Acosta, Sean Foley Designs based on the originals for the Birmingham Royal Ballet stage John Macfarlane Additional props Dick Bird Video and Projection Design Nina Dunn Lighting Design Johnny Westall-Eyre

This performance was made possible thanks to the generous support of

The Sugar Plum Fairy Momoko Hirata The Prince César Morales Drosselmeyer, a magician Jonathan Payn Clara, a ballet student Karla Doorbar

Act I

The Magician’s Assistant Kit Holder Clara’s Mother, a former ballerina Eilis Small Clara’s Father Valentin Olovyannikov Fritz, Clara’s younger brother Ben Whittaker -Brown Fritz’s Friend Kian Malek Clara’s Dancing Partner Max Maslen Grandmother Emma Price Grandfather Michael O’Hare Butler Darel Perez Jack-in-the-Box Tzu-Chao Chou The Nutcracker Doll Gus Payne The Sugar Plum Fairy Doll Momoko Hirata Ballet Students, Cadets, Guests and Servants Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet

The Rat King Alexander Yap Soldiers Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet Rats Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet The Snow Fairy Alys Shee Her Attendants Rosanna Ely, Miki Mizutani, Beatrice Parma, Lynsey Sutherland Winds Gabriel Anderson, Ryan Felix, Haoliang Feng, Callum Findlay-White Snowflakes Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet

Interval Act II

Spanish Dance Beatrice Parma Gabriel Anderson, Kit Holder Arabian Dance Eilis Small, Haoliang Feng, Callum Findlay-White, Alexander Yap Chinese Dance Max Maslen, Tzu-Chao Chou Russian Dance Ryan Felix, Gus Payne, Shuailun Wu Mirlitons Rosanna Ely, Miki Mizutani, Emma Price, Lynsey Sutherland Snowflakes, Flowers Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet

Grand pas de deux Momoko Hirata, César Morales

Students and children appear by kind permission of the Principal and the Artistic Director of Elmhurst Ballet School.

Members of the Royal Ballet Sinfonia

Conductor Paul Murphy

First Violins Double Basses Neil Mitchell Robert Gibbs Leader Vera Pereira Chris Pointon Vanessa David Alan Taylor Trumpets Amanda Brown Flutes Michael Allen Deborah Schlenther Joanna Shaw Julie Ryan Second Violins Sandra Skipper Piccolo Bass Trombone Mary Martin Oboes David Gordon Robert Simmons Alaster Bentley Philip Aird Harp Maxwell Spiers Cor anglais Sue Blair Violas Clarinets Errika Horsley Timpani Ian Scott Chris Pitsillides Grahame King Harry Penny Bass clarinet Cellos Percussion Bassoon António Novais Kevin Earley Llinos Owen Jane Rainey Horns Andrew Littlemore

The livestream and on-demand recording has been made by Ross MacGibbon and his team THE STORY

ACT I ACT II

It is Christmas Eve and Dr Stahlbaum and his wife are Clara arrives in a fantastic world, conjured up by Godfather giving a party. They have invited Herr Drosselmeyer, Drosselmeyer, where she is greeted by a host of dolls Godfather to their two children,Clara and her younger from many different lands who seem familiar from brother Fritz, to provide a magic show. Drosselmeyer is Drosselmeyer’s toy shop. The dolls come to life and dance a gifted toy maker and he brings presents for the young for her but the festivities are cut short when the Rat King children; a Nutcracker doll for Clara and a Rat King puppet bursts in. The Nutcracker Prince and Drosselmeyer restore for Fritz. Clara is fascinated by the Nutcracker and her belief order, by banishing him forever. that it has magical powers is confirmed when her brother breaks it and the doll strangely mends itself. The party The celebrations continue as the dolls perform their comes to an end, the guests depart and the family goes to national dances. Finally, the glittering Sugar Plum Fairy bed. dances a sparkling pas de deux with the Nutcracker Prince.

Unable to sleep, Clara creeps downstairs looking for the Clara grows sleepy. Finding herself back at the foot of the Nutcracker doll. As the clock strikes midnight, strange Christmas tree holding the Nutcracker doll, she wonders, things begin to happen. The Nutcracker springs to life and, “Was it all a magical dream?” summoning the toy soldiers, defends Clara who is attacked by the Rat King.

Realising that the Nutcracker is about to be overpowered, Clara hits the Rat King with her shoe and he collapses. The Nutcracker falls exhausted to the ground, seemingly lifeless. Sadly, Clara takes him in her arms and tries to revive him. He gradually comes back to life and, to her amazement, has turned into a handsome Prince. He dances with her, then leads her to the Land of Snow where the Winds transport her into the night sky.

Sir David Bintley’s ★★★★★ Cinderella Birmingham Mail 31 Mar – 10 Apr 2021