The Nutcracker at The REP Broadcast: 15 – 21 February 2021
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 Samara Downs The Prince Tyrone Singleton Drosselmeyer, a magician Rory Mackay Clara, a ballet student Laura Day
Act I
The Magician’s Assistant Joseph Taylor Clara’s Mother, a former ballerina Yijing Zhang Clara’s Father Wolfgang Stollwitzer Fritz, Clara’s younger brother Wesley Mpakati Fritz’s Friend Samuel Lyons Clara’s Dancing Partner Lachlan Monaghan Grandmother Reina Fuchigami Grandfather Dominic Antonucci Butler Louis Dobbs The Nutcracker Doll Gus Payne The Sugar Plum Fairy Doll Samara Downs Jack-in-the-Box Hamish Scott Ballet Students, Cadets, Guests and Servants Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet
The Rat King Tom Rogers Soldiers and Rats Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet
The Land of Snow (Danced by students of Elmhurst Ballet School)
The Snow Fairy Amelia Thompson Her Attendants Hannah Martin, Mary Riley, Libby Rimmer, Leila Wright Winds Ugo Frediani, Bradley Howell, Tim Morgenstern, Ben Randall Snowflakes Students of Elmhurst Ballet School
Interval Act II
Spanish Dance Rachele Pizzillo, August Generalli, Miles Gilliver Arabian Dance Yijing Zhang, Brandon Lawrence, Louis Dobbs, Lennert Steegen Chinese Dance Lachlan Monaghan, Gus Payne Russian Dance Joseph Taylor, Thomas Gerhardt, Amir Shah Mirlitons Reina Fuchigami, Tessa Hogge, Sofia Linares, Yaoqian Shang Snowflakes, Flowers Students of Elmhurst Ballet School
Grand pas de deux Samara Downs, Tyrone Singleton
Students appear by kind permission of the Director of The Royal Ballet School, and the Principal and the Artistic Director of Elmhurst Ballet School
Members of the Royal Ballet Sinfonia
Conductor Paul Murphy
First Violins Cellos Clarinets Bass Trombone Robert Gibbs Leader António Novais Ian Scott David Gordon Vanessa David Jane Rainey Harry Penny Bass clarinet Harp Amanda Brown Bassoon Sue Blair Deborah Schlenther Double Basses Llinos Owen Vera Pereira Timpani Second Violins Alan Taylor Horns Grahame King Mary Martin Andrew Littlemore Robert Simmons Flutes Percussion Neil Mitchell Philip Aird Joanna Shaw Kevin Earley Chris Pointon Sandra Skipper Piccolo Violas Celeste Trumpets Errika Horsley Oboes Jonathan Higgins Michael Allen Chris Pitsillides Alaster Bentley Julie Ryan Maxwell Spiers Cor anglais
The Story Act I It is Christmas Eve and Dr Stahlbaum and his wife are giving He gradually comes back to life and, to her amazement, has a party. They have invited Herr Drosselmeyer, Godfather to turned into a handsome Prince. He dances with her, then their two children, Clara and her brother Fritz, to provide leads her to the Land of Snow where the Winds transport her a magic show. Drosselmeyer is a gifted toy maker and he into the night sky. brings presents for the young children; a Nutcracker doll for Clara and a Rat King puppet for Fritz. Clara is fascinated by Act II the Nutcracker and her belief that it has magical powers is Clara arrives in a fantastic world, conjured up by Godfather confirmed when her brother breaks it and the doll strangely Drosselmeyer, where she is greeted by a host of dolls from mends itself. The party ends and the family goes to bed. different lands. The dolls come to life and dance for her but the festivities are cut short when the Rat King bursts in. Unable to sleep, Clara creeps downstairs looking for the The Nutcracker Prince and Drosselmeyer restore order, by Nutcracker doll. As the clock strikes midnight, strange banishing him forever. The celebrations continue as the dolls things begin to happen. The Nutcracker springs to life and, perform their national dances. Finally, the Sugar Plum Fairy summoning the toy soldiers, defends Clara who is attacked by dances a sparkling pas de deux with the Nutcracker Prince. the Rat King. Clara grows sleepy. Finding herself back at the foot of the Realising that the Nutcracker is about to be overpowered, Christmas tree holding the Nutcracker doll, she wonders, Clara hits the Rat King with her shoe and he collapses. The “Was it all a magical dream?” Nutcracker falls exhausted to the ground, seemingly lifeless. Sadly, Clara takes him in her arms and tries to revive him.