Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker at Birmingham Hippodrome
It's one of the most dazzling and imaginative productions ever staged - Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker has survived for 20 years and will visit Birmingham's Hippodrome from Tuesday, February 7, until Saturday, February 11, 2012 as part of an anniversary tour.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXzVujXUJp8&feature=fvst
It's one of the most dazzling and imaginative productions ever staged - Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker has survived for 20 years and will visit Birmingham's Hippodrome from Tuesday, February 7, until Saturday, February 11, 2012 as part of an anniversary tour.
Hippodrome spokeswoman Mandy Rose said: "This delicious theatrical feast has family-sized helpings of Matthew Bourne's trademark wit, pathos and magical fantasy.
"Nutcracker follows Clara's bittersweet journey from an hilariously bleak Christmas Eve at Dr Dross's Orphanage, through a shimmering, ice-skating winter wonderland to the scrumptious candy kingdom of Sweetieland.
"Tchaikovsky's glorious score and Anthony Ward's unforgettable sets and costumes combine with sizzling choreography to create a fresh and charmingly irreverent interpretation of the traditional Christmas favourite."
Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker was hailed by The Observer as "the undisputed king of dance theatre".
The production will showcase the talents of director and choreographer Bourne, designer Anthony Ward, musical director Brett Morris, lighting designer Howard Harrison, sound designer Paul Groothius and co-devisor Martin Duncan.
Its present 20th anniversary tour has already taken the production to Bromley, Cardiff, Stoke-on-Trent, Edinburgh, London, Liverpool and Woking. Following its Birmingham dates, it will visit Milton Keynes, Glasgow, Leicester, London, Salford, Norwich, Bradford, Oxford, Bristol, Plymouth, Nottingham, Dublin and Newcastle.
Bourne says it's easy to understand why Nutcracker, which is 110-years-old, has remained so popular. "It's about growing up and it's about first love and these are themes that we can all relate to. They are particularly relevant to this production, which casts adult performers as a group of very needy young orphans.
"It's also a touching coming of age story told through the dreams and nightmares of a particular young girl, Clara.
"The classical Nutcracker has also become a Christmas tradition, particularly for mothers and their young dancing-school-daughters; it's often the first ballet that many people see. It can, though, be a difficult story to follow and a bore for the men of the family. I've tried to tell a story for all the family. Adults, kids, girls and boys should all find something to thrill them and touch them in Clara's adventure.
"I would also like to think that the main reason that Nutcracker has retained its perennial appeal is because of Tchaikovsky's incredible score. Act one contains some of his most engaging and, at times, profound story-telling music and Act two has one glorious melody after another. After 110 years it retains its mystery, magic and the power to transport us to another world."
Tickets are available at www.birminghamhippodrome.com