Was it the audience meowing, the barrage of Brussel sprouts, the hilarious jokes, the delights of the Land of Sweets, the Liquorice Allsorts set, the heinous Mouse King, the posturing, the singing, the dancing that made Creation’s The Nutcracker such a delight?
Creation has surpassed itself with this hilarious, fun and riveting adaption of The Nutcracker
The list of memorable moments goes on and on, but what Creation has bought to the festive table this year is not only groaning with goodies but an absolute joy to behold. Creation’s ‘The Nutcracker’ at The North Wall is ‘delicious, lickalicious and scrumptadicious, and the best way to start your Christmas’
Poignant and heartfelt, as hilarious as it is moving, silly, fantastical and imaginative in equal measure, The Nutcracker is a riot of a show that embraces every aspect of Christmas and keeps you thoroughly entertained from start to finish.
The Nutcracker is a riot of a show that embraces every aspect of Christmas and keeps you thoroughly entertained from start to finish
Usually a ballet, Helen Eastman has taken E.T.A. Hoffmann‘s German tale and turned it into a winter wonderland. But trouble is afoot in the family household. Times are hard, the children are squabbling and their mum is worried sick about trying to give them a Christmas to remember on a budget.
When they realise that mice have taken over their house, eating everything that is dear to them from their books to the mince pies, the festive season takes a turn for the worse.
when the Nutcracker comes to life to fight off the mice, it all starts making sense and the battle lines are drawn
Even Uncle Drosselmeyer‘s visit to give them their Christmas gifts, doesn’t lift their spirits especially when Fritz is given a Camembert and Marie a nutcracker soldier. But when the Nutcracker (the comic and dashing Clark Alexander) comes to life to fight off the mice, it all starts making sense and the battle lines are drawn.
But the Mouse King is impossible to defeat (aided by his army made up by the Creation Youth Chorus), and as the first half closes rather somberly. What will become of them?
the second half bursts into life in a glory of colour and confectionary as Marie
Luckily the second half bursts into life in a glory of colour and confectionary as Marie (Creation favourite Hayley Murray) and the Nutcracker visit The Land of Sweets ‘where everything is candy coated and nothing bad can happen’ to enlist the help of the gloriously kaleidoscopic Sugar Plum Fairy (Asha Cornelia Cluer) and her Liquorice Allsorts brigade, as much hilarity ensues.
Of course the Mouse King has other plans and is determined to thwart them, but with the help of the audience, bags of lobbed Brussel sprouts, constant meowing, lots of cheesy cheese jokes and an epic wrapping paper sword fight, Marie and her troupe finally triumph.
Racing home to rescue her brother Fritz (Andy Owens who totally encapsulates boyish mischief), from the cupboard, the vitriolic Mouse King is finally captured, Christmas can continue and all is well in the world, Marie, Fritz and their mum realising that being together is more important than expensive gifts.
It’s walnut whip wonderful
Always a highlight of the festive season, Creation has surpassed itself with this hilarious, fun and riveting adaption of The Nutcracker, keeping us all on the edge of our seats, meowing like cats, singing, laughing uproariously and tapping our toes, whatever your age. It’s Walnut Whip wonderful.
So give your Christmas a special sparkle and book your tickets now. Merry Christmouse!
The Nutcracker runs at The North Wall until January 3. Book here: https://creationtheatre.co.uk/show/nutcracker/
