English National Ballet, Nutcracker, Coliseum

English National Ballet has been performing Nutcracker in one version or another since it was founded in 1950; but its most recent Nutcracker had been creaking for some time. Created by the company's then artistic director Wayne Eagling in 2010, it did capture some of the magic and offered plenty of dancing, but its narrative was incoherent and over the years it had acquired a fusty aura.

ENB deserved better; and in his first year as artistic director Aaron S Watkin set a brand new Nutcracker as an absolute priority. ENB's new version of the Christmas ballet will soon be unveiled and will take over the London Coliseum for the whole of the 2024/25 festive season.

Choreographed by Aaron Watkin himself with Olivier Award winner Arielle Smith, one of the most in-demand young dance makers working today, ENB's new Nutcracker keeps the main plot lines and characters of the original, but tweaks them. This Nutcracker starts on the streets of Edwardian London and Drosselymeyer’s Sweets & Delights Emporium, where Clara and her mother are shopping and she becomes enchanted by a nutcracker doll.

They bring home liquorice all-sorts, nougat, marzipan and of course, sugar plums (plenty of dancing there, for sure!) for the guests of their Christmas Eve party. There Clara has a magical vision leading to her second act journey through a a dazzling ice realm to the Land of Sweets and Delights, where she partakes in a grand celebration arranged by the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The ballet features new sets and costumes by the vastly experienced theatre designer Dick Bird and lighting by Olivier Award winner Paul Pyant (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

And of course, it's danced to Tchaikovsky's glorious score, played live by the English National Ballet Philharmonic under its new music director Maria Seletskaja.

The run up to ENB's new Nutcracker is documented by Sky Arts in a two-part film entitled, Nutcracker: Backstage with English National Ballet, which will be broadcast over two weeks starting on 9 December. A full performance filmed at the London Coliseum will follow.

NOTE: Tickets are selling fast – early booking is advised.