Lovingly recreated for audiences across Scotland and beyond, this Christmas Scottish Ballet proudly presents Peter Darrell’s The Nutcracker. We were invited along to see what the cast were up to at their dress rehearsal this afternoon and we would describe it as colourful, extravagant and energetic!
Sophie Martin as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Erik Cavallari as The Nutcracker Prince head up a stellar cast. This afternoon they were rehearsing Act Two The Realm of the Sugar Plum Fairy. If you go along to the ballet this Christmas then do tell us what you think about the production!
Crafted for Scotland by the company’s founding Artistic Director, a famous story-teller and an incredible dance-maker, this Nutcracker is full of magical memories. Audiences can now, once again, share this dream-making production with families and friends, over forty years since it first premiered.
After a fun-filled Christmas party full of magic and celebrations, young Clara falls asleep and dreams that she helps the Nutcracker Prince to defeat an army of giant mice. She is rewarded by a visit to the glittering Land of Ice and Snow, where snowflakes come to life, sparkling as they dance – and the magical Kingdom of Sweets – the enchanted Realm of the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy.
“I’d known about Darrell’s production of The Nutcracker when I was a child. The images of the hanging baubles in Act Two was in just about every dance book there was,” explains Scottish Ballet’s Artistic Director Christopher Hampson on his choice to reintroduce Darrell’s Nutcracker to audiences.
“A Nutcracker production, for most ballet companies, is a very important part of the repertoire. It is normally the most performed work and needs to be something that will last for generations. Peter’s production had done that, but it needed to be rested so that it could be rediscovered again and brought back with a fresh perspective. It’s no accident that I’ve chosen a Darrell work to put at the very heart of our repertoire.”
Peter Darrell’s magical world of The Nutcracker has been re-imagined for today’s audiences by Olivier Award winning designer Lez Brotherston, adding sumptuous layers of plush Victoriana and traditional festive fare to the original 1973 production.
“This production will be as close to Peter’s original as possible – the point of bringing the production back is to see his beautiful, intricate choreography,” adds Hampson. “In terms of design, I asked Lez to take inspiration from the original designs, so although they are different there will still be a sense of the original production.
“The essence of this being a family production is the key element – and we’ve looked to gently incorporate some new ideas for a new audience. We’ve been working closely with the Peter Darrell Trust to ensure that our new production has the Peter’s intentions at its heart.”
“The brief of the piece was unusual in that it existed before. It’s Peter’s production and it still feels like that – as it should do,” says Designer Lez Brotherston.
“Peter’s original designer was Philip Prowse and that feels quite meaningful to me personally. Philip’s work was of great inspiration to me when I was at art school – he tutored me on my final-year designs and his influences have stayed with me.
“It’s still in set in the 1870s and has that sumptuous rich Victoriana feeling – and there are bustles and tutus of course, but some of the costumes have been adapted to better show off the dancers’ line and the choreography.
“Those who have seen the production before will remember Darrell’s famous Land of Sweeties – that’s still there although my sweeties are slightly different, and there’s a version of the Land of Snow too. My interpretation of the house is also a little different and maybe there’ll be something special about the toys that the children receive as Christmas presents – you’ll have to come along to see.”
Darrell’s enchanting production has claimed a special place in the hearts of audiences across Scotland for generations. It sparked the ballet careers of many young dancers who performed the roles of Clara and her brothers – including Scottish Ballet Principal Dancer Christopher Harrison who has seen his own dream come true and will be this time performing the star role of The Prince some twenty years later.
Once again Scottish Ballet will welcome a very special cast of young, local dancers to the ranks of the company’s professionals for this inspiring production in which Clara, the littlest ballerina, is the one that visits the many magical worlds and saves the brave Nutcracker Prince.
Budding ballerinas and Nutcracker soldiers can also get involved in a range of fun Wee Nutcracker dance workshops in Glasgow and Edinburgh; download our special Kids packs full of fun activities to try at home or find out how Scottish Ballet’s magical world of The Nutcracker is brought to life at Family Insights across the tour. Audio Described performances are also available, alongside free pre and post show talks where audiences can meet the dancers too – adults can also indulge in some sugar-plum themed baked goods and dance sessions with Scottish Ballet’s favourite tea-time treat, Ballet Cafe. Please see listings for more details.
The Scottish Ballet Orchestra will also accompany the dancers live, performing the world famous Tchaikovsky score.
SCOTTISH BALLET presents
Peter Darrell’s
THE NUTCRACKER
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
Saturday 13 December 2014 – Saturday 3 January 2015
Photos by Martin McAdam
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
