The Nutcracker

Sir Peter Wright’s 1984 version of The Nutcracker for The Royal Ballet, still performed by the Company, stays close to Hoffmann’s original tale. It emphasises Drosselmeyer’s mission to find a young girl – Clara – who can break the curse imposed by the Mouse King on his nephew Hans Peter and thus restore him to human form. References to Nuremberg and German Christmas traditions are present in the settings, with a kingdom of marzipan featured in Act 2.

5.3

99 min

Cast

Lesley Collier

as Sugar Plum Fairy

Anthony Dowell

as Sugar Plum Fairy's Prince

Michael Coleman

as Drosselmeyer

Julie Rose

as Clara

Guy Niblett

as Nutcracker / Hans-Peter

Sandra Conley

as Mrs. Stahlbaum

Director

John Vernon