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'I loved the costumes and it had a real Christmas vibe'
With a swirl of snow, 4,500 baubles, shimmering costumes and a twinkling Christmas tree, not to mention the Sugar Plum Fairy, Scottish Ballet’s The Nutcracker is a perfect traditional Christmas to come life. Every second of this ballet could be frozen in time and put on the front of a Christmas card.
And, with a cast that includes a number of children, including the main character Clara, and a plot that could come straight from a kids’ picture book, it is also a ballet made for children.
So, if you are going to take a child to see the ballet, the Scottish Ballet’s Christmas show is the best place to start; and if you’re going to try a Scottish Ballet Christmas show, you can’t get much more Christmassy or child-friendly than The Nutcracker.
The ballet opens at a 19th century Russian family Christmas party with a richly decorated tableau of men in gilt-embroidered uniforms, women in bustle-tastic dresses and children running about and opening presents. Clara, played on the night we were there by an enchanting 12-year-old Chloe Macduff, is given a nutcracker by the mysterious sparkly-caped Drosselmeyer. The guests leave, the lights are dimmed but Clara can’t sleep and creeps in to check on her beloved new toy.
She falls asleep but is woken when she’s attacked by giant mice. The Nutcracker turns into a prince, fights off the mice and King Rat with the help of some toy soldiers, then whisks her off to the Land of Sweets where there are lots of beautiful dances, gorgeous sets and fabulous characters including a couple of monkeys and a trio of clowns. There is also the Sugar Plum Fairy and her famous dance. When the dances are over and the lights dim, Clara is asleep on the floor still clutching her nutcracker.
Everything is as delicious and magical as the puff of icing sugar when you open a box of Turkish Delight and I can’t imagine a child, especially one who goes to dance classes, not being inspired by this. In fact, Chloe Macduff, one of five Claras for this production, is quoted as saying: “I went to see The Nutcracker when I was seven with my granny and my wee sister for Granny’s birthday. I really loved it and dreamed I would dance on the stage one day.”
My daughter said: “I loved the costumes and it had a real Christmas vibe.”
The first act is around 50 minutes, with a 20 minute interval and the second half is just over an hour, with a total time of around 2 hours and 15 minutes. Masks have to be worn inside at all times and there are hand-sanitisers as you enter the building.
The programmes are £5 each but are practically books with lots of nice pics and interesting facts; who knew that tip-toeing sound in the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy is made by an instrument called the celeste which is also used in the Harry Potter theme tune? That’s one question for my family Christmas quiz sorted.
And sit in the stalls if you want a sparkling surprise at the end!
*The Nutcracker runs at the Festival Theatre, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9FT, until December 31. Evening performances 7.30pm, matinees on selected dates 1.30pm/2.30pm. Tickets £19.50-£52.50. Visit the website for more information and to book