George Balanchines The Nutcracker

Ballet slippers transformed into Christmas trees in the foyer. Tchaikovsky’s unmistakable score resounding through the theatre. And a stage alive with children from the Royal Danish Ballet School. It is all but impossible not to be swept up in the spirit of Christmas when The Nutcracker returns to the Old Stage. At the close of 2026, its familiar melodies and graceful choreography will once again set hearts – young and old alike – beating in time with the season.

The Nutcracker is a ballet for the whole family. Not merely a festive delight for children, it also invites parents and grandparents to revisit the wonder and innocence of their own childhood. In George Balanchine’s masterful 1954 version, the magic is heightened at every turn, creating a richly imaginative production that has become the perfect herald of the year’s most cherished celebration.

The story unfolds over the course of a single night – though no ordinary night. Young Marie receives the most extraordinary nutcracker as a Christmas gift from her godfather, and when the clock strikes midnight, it carries her away on a magical journey. From the warmth of the family Christmas party, she travels to the enchanting Land of Sweets, encountering fearsome mice, swirling snowflakes and waltzing flowers, lively candy canes and a radiant Sugarplum Fairy – to name but a few.

The tale of the mysterious Nutcracker was first written in 1816 by the eccentric German author E.T.A. Hoffmann. It was transformed into a ballet in 1892, with Tchaikovsky composing a score whose unforgettable themes have become some of the most beloved in music history.

Recommended from 6 years old