Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker! 2012
Reviews

Matthew Bourne never fails his audiences. Every production comes with a guarantee of excellence and The Nutcracker certainly didn’t disappoint!

We were swept in to a wonderland of bright, colourful characters as we followed the adventures of Clara, a lonely orphan girl. Clara and the other Orphan children are treated miserably by Dr Dross and Matron. This is, however, until a Christmas toy comes to life and whisks Clara away.

With a team of exquisite dancers, the story flowed effortlessly. The scenes were mesmerising to watch, charming and full of emotion. The dancer’s costumes contrasted gloriously between drab, grey orphan smocks and shocking, pink dresses.

This was complimented by the incredible set; walls of pink and blue clouds, a giant pillow and even an enormous wedding cake! The colours were vivid and striking and added to the sheer brilliance of the piece.

The well known, beautiful score accompanied the dancing. With a different take on the storyline, the music remained as lovely as it has always been. There was a shiver of nostalgia across the audience as songs such as Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy echoed out from the stage.

What is wonderful about this performance is its ability to have an effect on anyone, no matter what age or gender. The themes of childish dreaming and romance are as sweet as Candy Land itself. There are elements throughout that almost everyone can relate to.

With a healthy mix of sweet and funny, this was an entrancing story. It is refreshing to see a performance with so much talent and skill that captures our hearts and imaginations. I’ll admit to being a fan of Matthew Bourne and performances like this are the reason why. The Nutcracker certainly was an enjoyable treat for all.