Review: BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET’S THE NUTCRACKER, Birmingham Hippodrome
Photo credit: Johan Persson
Birmingham Royal Ballet’s beloved production of The Nutcracker has returned to Birmingham Hippodrome, bringing with it the familiar festive magic that keeps audiences coming back year after year. From the moment the curtain rises on Christmas Eve, the production sweeps you into Clara’s world of dancing snowflakes, towering Christmas trees and Tchaikovsky’s glittering score performed live by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia. It is a reminder of why this show has become such an essential part of the Midlands Christmas calendar, especially for families and ballet lovers who know the story well but never tire of its charm.
The ballet follows young Clara, who receives a wooden nutcracker at her family’s Christmas party and later falls asleep beside it. When the clock strikes midnight, the toy springs to life, defeats the menacing Rat King and transforms into a prince who leads Clara through a snow filled kingdom and into the Land of Sweets. Even after countless revivals, their journey remains one of ballet’s most enchanting sequences, a blend of fantasy and nostalgia that continues to captivate audiences of all ages.
What truly sets this production apart is its extraordinary design. The stage, already ornate, expands into a wondrous dreamscape once Clara shrinks. The Christmas tree grows beyond the ceiling and a giant fireplace becomes the gateway for the Rat King’s dramatic entrance. The costumes are equally striking. While the sparkling ballerinas and crisp soldier uniforms are exactly what you’d expect, the real surprise is the Jack in the box, whose spring loaded trousers make him a mesmerising presence every time he leaps across the stage.
As expected from Birmingham Royal Ballet, the dancing is exceptional and delivered with precision and effortless musicality. The standout performance comes from Miki Mizutani as the Sugar Plum Fairy, who offers a spellbinding display of pirouettes and chaînés that seem to go on forever in the best possible way. She brings a quiet radiance to the role that lifts the entire production.
Act One is particularly enchanting, beginning with a bustling Christmas party full of playful shenanigans. The magician’s sleight of hand, especially his trick of repairing the nutcracker without touching it, sets the tone for the magic to come. Act Two, which opens with Clara flying in on a goose, is visually delightful although slightly unusual in context. The puppetry is charming and Tchaikovsky’s most famous music anchors the act, but the narrative becomes noticeably thinner here and relies more on spectacle than storytelling.
First performed in St Petersburg in 1892 and inspired by Alexandre Dumas’ retelling of Hoffmann’s tale, The Nutcracker has always been a ballet rooted in tradition, and this production embraces that fully. It celebrates classical choreography and world class technique, allowing Tchaikovsky’s shimmering score, particularly the celesta rich ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’, to shine. For traditionalists and newcomers alike, this production remains a heartwarming celebration of the season and a festive treat for the whole family.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Sophie Eaton