Scottish Ballet, The Secret Theatre

Scotland may be under strict Covid restrictions, with all theatres closed, but as far as Glasgow-based Scottish Ballet is concerned, the show will most definitely go on.

Scottish Ballet is Scotland's flagship dance company, and one of the most interesting and innovative ensembles in the UK, with a pioneering track record in digital work. It created the world's first digital dance season in 2017, thus opening a new dimension in dance viewing, even before the current pandemic made digital the only way to view performing arts – still the case in many parts of the UK.

Now Scottish Ballet comes up with another novelty: The Secret Theatre, its first full-length feature film, that will have its world premiere on the company's website on 21 December, and will remain available for free (although you need to book your tickets) until 24 December.

The plot sounds charming: in a deserted city, a young boy stumbles into a theatre. He wanders through the auditorium, where rows of velvet chairs, draping curtains and chandeliers seem to lie in wait for audiences to return. The theatre may be empty, but the show will go on...

And so, before the boy's marvelling eyes, the theatre comes thrillingly to life, starring characters from Scottish Ballet's most popular works, including – of course! – The Nutcracker, but also The Snow Queen.

Characters from those two works and others cross each other's worlds, in a glorious mish-mash of styles and stories that brings together clowns, acrobats, princes, snowflakes and ballerinas.

All in all, it's a festival of dance, choreographed by Scottish Ballet's dynamic and hugely creative CEO/artistic director, Christopher Hampson, with the company's founder Peter Darrell, and co-directed for the screen by Jess & Morgs. Set and costumes are designed by the prolific Lez Brotherston; and the musical score, blending Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky, is recorded live by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra.

The full Scottish Ballet Company dances in The Secret Theatre, bringing a different festive dimension to what for us all will be a Christmas like no other…

And while you await the arrival of The Secret Theatre, may we suggest you explore Scottish Ballet's extraordinary treasure trove of works in the digital section of its website. Click here for access.