REVIEW | Nutcracker! Matthew Bourne
NUTCRACKER!
MATTHEW BOURNE
★★★★★
For the first time in 10 years, Matthew Bourne's delicious dance spectacular, Nutcracker! is back! Joining it on the tail end of the most recent tour, this production, which celebrates its 30th anniversary next year, delivers one of the most unforgettable nights of dance you can ever experience.
The original story, written by Hoffman back in 1816, portrayed a bleak perception of humanity and relationships. Famous Russian composer Tchaikovsky brought Nutcracker to the stage where it was first performed in December 1892. It was the last of his three ballets. When Matthew Bourne first created a more modernistic version of the Nutcracker! back in 1992, he wanted to retain key elements and main themes of Tchaikovsky's ballet. Bourne's modernistic version became a new scenario that he created with Martin Duncan. Together they redeveloped the traditional Christmas story. This production is a heart-warming coming-of-age story that is told through the dreams, and nightmares of Clara, a young orphan girl at the epicentre.
The show opens with a bleak beginning and this is very much a nod to the original story. It begins in an awful Dickensian Orphanage on Christmas Eve. The orphanage prepares for the annual visit of the Institute's Governors. After the visitors leave, the decorations are torn down and things in this orphanage return to their usual emptiness. Nutcracker! draws on Clara, an orphan in this place, and her bittersweet journey from this desolate place through a shimmering, ice-skating winter wonderland to the scrumptious candy kingdom of Sweetieland, drawing on heavy influences of the lavish 1930's Hollywood musicals. It's a wonderland for any young audience member to experience!
Of course, Matthew Bourne's definitive movement style is elevated by Tchaikovsky's inspiring score. Bourne fuses together contemporary, musical theatre and ballet to create pieces that are unique. The 22-strong dance cast strives in executing articulate and constant energy in their performances. Each of them uses their body effectively to tell the stories, no words are needed. There was some great comic relief intertwined with the fast pace of the choreography that younger audiences absorbed and loved. The exceptional dancers each have to work through a variety of different characters, contributing a whole array of different personalities to the stage. The finished product is flawless and it is what makes Nutcracker! a timeless production.
READ MORE: Matthew Bourne - The Midnight Bell REVIEW, 2021
Matthew Bourne production household names Ashley Shaw, Cordella Braithwaite , and Dominic North were back. Having danced with this company for 10 years they show there are no signs of slowing down for these forces. Their movement style is really something special! Harrison Dowzell wowed audiences with his stage presence as the Nutcracker in this performance.
Nutcracker! is lavishly beautiful in its set and costume design. It works in harmony with the entire finishing product. The sets in the second half are awe-inspiring as we see sweetieland come to flourish on Clara's journey.
Nutcracker! is a timeless piece of dance theatre, perfect for all ages.