United Kingdom New English Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker: The Sainsbury Theatre, LAMDA, London, 18.12.2025. (JO’D)
With this virtually ‘chamber’ manufacturing of The Nutcracker, carried out to a recording of Tchaikovsky’s rating, New English Ballet Theatre proves that much less could be nearly as good as extra. The variety of dancers is comparatively small, however choreography, lighting, design and libretto mix to create magic on a bigger scale.
Valentino Zucchetti has danced the function of the Nutcracker Prince at The Royal Ballet, the place he’s at the moment a First Soloist. He has choreographed work for that firm, and for NEBT previously. His choreography right here, ‘after Petipa’, is delicate to the notes and the spirit of the music. With Emily Bridge and NEBT’s Founder and Creative Director, Karen Pilkington-Miksa, Zucchetti has additionally devised a neat, logical story that makes finest use of the corporate’s assets.
A prologue reveals The Social gathering Entertainer (an instantly participating Louis DeFelice) preparing for the social gathering of Act I. On a desk close to him are the Nutcracker Doll, for Clara, and a mannequin ship for her brother, George. The Entertainer is provided with a wand and a gold watch, which he’ll use to hypnotize the visitors.
The social gathering is in a modern-day setting: the boys in dinner jackets; the ladies in night attire and jewels (costumes by Lisa James). The roles of the teenage Clara and George are taken by the grownup Liudmila Konovalova and Marcos Silva. Throughout the ‘social’ dancing of this act, with its modern strikes and risqué moments, the Entertainer distributes presents that seek advice from the divertissements of Act II: castanets, a fan, a espresso pot of silver-gilt, Russian Hats.
Earlier than that, the Entertainer ushers within the Battle Scene. George, Lead Pirate of a band of feminine pirates (from his mannequin ship), assaults the Nutcracker Doll, now Prince (Luca De Poli), and his males. The victorious Prince and Clara dance a pas de deux that reveals De Poli to be an attentive companion. Each he and Konovalova are achieved in a daring, climactic raise.
Within the transitional Snow Scene Joshie Harriette’s lighting makes the stage increase. Zucchetti deploys 5 Snowflakes and 4 ‘Snowboys’ (all of whom have been visitors on the social gathering) and introduces a charmingly smiling Snow Queen (Audrey Nelson). The backdrop reveals a snowy panorama, a big home with lighted home windows within the distance.
The extra conventional Act II is ready in what could possibly be the ballroom of this home. Rebecca Arias and Zhaklin Gudeva stamp the heels of their ‘character’ sneakers in unison in ‘Castanets’. Leila Wright and Nicholas Rose are sinuous in harem pants of gray and gold within the orientalist ‘Espresso Pot’. Emily Pohl, in ‘Fan’, makes one reference, together with her ft, to a ‘Chinese language’ dance. Shynngys Tolegen and Marcos Silva execute exuberant splits (and foutté within the case of the latter) in ‘Russian Hats’. ‘Champagne’ is a pas de trois danced with delicacy by Isla Ghali, Aurora Zaccutti and Paul Meneu. Just like the Snow Scene, the Waltz of the Flowers (colour-tinged tutus for the ladies; colored sashes for the boys) conveys the impression of there being extra dancers than there actually are.
Luca De Poli is attentive once more within the ‘Grand Pas’, for which Liudmila Konovalova turns into the Sugar Plum Fairy. After it, the ballerina leaves her companion quite awkwardly alone. Not due to sudden harm, as you may suppose, however to reappear as Clara on the drawing room couch, holding the Nutcracker Doll aloft.
John O’Dwyer
Featured Picture: NEBT’s The Nutcracker © Andrej Uspenski
Creatives:
Choreographer – Valentino Zucchetti after Marius Petipa
Music – Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Libretto – Karen Pilkington-Miksa MBE, Emily Bridge and Valentino Zucchetti
Lighting designer – Joshie Harriette
Costume design – Lisa James, Karen Pilkington-Miksa MBE, Valentino Zucchetti and Emily Bridge
Solid included:
The Social gathering Entertainer – Louis DeFelice
Clara’s Mom – Leila Wright
Clara’s Father – Hiroki Takano
Clara/Sugar Plum Fairy – Liudmila Konovalova
George (Clara’s Brother) – Marcos Silva
Nutcracker/Prince – Luca De Poli
Dancers of New English Ballet Theatre
