The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker, Varna International Ballet

Guest review by Caroline Johnson

Last night, I was lucky enough to watch a breath-taking performance of The Nutcracker, courtesy of the talented Varna International Ballet.

The traveling team brought a burst of colour and flair with their flamboyant costumes, creating a visual tapestry of vibrant hues and intricate designs. The addition of a digital backdrop - a new element for me -seamlessly integrated into the performance, offering a modern twist to the timeless tale.

For those unfamiliar with the story, it follows the slumbering fantasy of little Marie, who drifts off to sleep after creeping back to the drawing room to see her beloved nutcracker doll - a gift from her eccentric godfather, the magician Drosselmeyer. In her dream, the nutcracker is turned into a prince and an adventure ensues involving mice, toy soldiers and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Here, Marie was captivating and floated gracefully around the stage with such ease, and The Mouse Queen emerged as a formidable warrior, her costume appearing delicately crafted from a robust chain mail.

There were standout moments aplenty, from the captivating Spanish Dance in red, black and gold, to the mesmerizing Arabic Dance adorned with veils and headpieces. The Snowflake Dance unfolded like a winter wonderland, a true spectacle that left me in awe, and the visual poetry created by the contrast between the prince’s bold scarlet attire and Marie’s pure white costume added an extra layer of magic to their wonderful Pas De Deux.

There was an element of humour too - the “nut” would have actually rendered the Nutcracker redundant given the sheer size! The mice had cheese thrown at them, there was an acrobatic giant, and lots of little details here and there which produced a smile.

All the dancers, with their flawless grace and poise, left an indelible mark. During the interval, I couldn't help but notice a collective lightness in the steps of both adults and children. The magic of the ballet seemed to linger, leaving everyone walking a little taller and significantly lighter on their feet. I leapt off my seat and floated to the bar to collect my drink.

The orchestra produced an amazing sound for a relatively small ensemble. The flautist and harpist were truly outstanding, making Tchaikovsky’s notoriously difficult score sound effortless.

If I had to criticise anything at all it would be that the music could been louder as you could hear the dancers landing, albeit with grace, on the stage. Additionally, during the Waltz of the Snowflakes, which traditionally has the wonderful melody sung, this production substituted the voices with a synthesizer. However, rest assured, these are tiny things in an otherwise wonderful performance.

It was truly magical right to the finale where characters would simply disappear behind Drosselmeyer’s cloak. Was there a trap door or was it magic? Who knows...

With mesmerising choreography and enchanting music, it transported me straight back to a time, many years ago, when I enjoyed this ballet at Christmas time at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

What a treat – so lovely to watch on a cold evening in February.

The Varna International Ballet is performing three ballets at Ipswich Regent Theatre from 1-3 February 2024.

FOR FULL SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE