The Nutcracker at St Martin’s Theatre Review
Written by Bethan for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
The Nutcracker at St Martin’s Theatre is a festive treat that knows exactly who it’s for and delivers accordingly. Aimed squarely at young children and their parents, this playful Christmas production immediately sets a relaxed and welcoming tone. Before the show even begins, the cast explains that the performance is a relaxed one, acknowledging the sea of excited children in the auditorium. It’s a small but thoughtful gesture that helps everyone settle in, and it proves to be entirely the right approach.
The story centres on two squabbling siblings who receive a mysterious nutcracker from their flamboyant Aunt on Christmas Eve, sending them on a fantastical adventure into the ‘Mousey Realm’. From there, the pair must navigate a world of chaos, mischief and music as they attempt to stop the evil Mouse King from ruining Christmas. While the stakes are clear, the storytelling remains refreshingly simple and easy to follow, making it ideal for its young audience without ever feeling confusing or overstuffed.
What truly makes this production sing is its sense of fun. Brought to life through ingenious cardboard creations, comic characters, and a chorus of cheeky musical mice, the show is bursting with energy. The humour is perfectly pitched for children, relying on visual gags, bold physical comedy, and playful exaggeration that prompt genuine laughter throughout the auditorium. Crucially, it never underestimates its audience; it understands exactly what will land with younger theatregoers and leans into it with confidence.
The musical moments, packed with feel-good festive bangers, add to the celebratory atmosphere, encouraging foot-tapping and seat-dancing without ever becoming overwhelming. The show’s cheesiness is also spot on. It is unapologetically festive, knowingly silly, and worn lightly enough to charm rather than grate. Parents are given just enough self-aware humour to keep them engaged, even if the production’s heart firmly belongs to its younger viewers.
That said, the show isn’t without its flaws. At times, the pacing dips slightly, and the visual spectacle may feel modest, and older children may occasionally crave a bit more dramatic tension.
Still, these are minor quibbles in a production that achieves exactly what it sets out to do. The Nutcracker at St Martin’s Theatre is a joyful, boldly silly, and feel-good festive outing that hits the sweet spot between chaos and charm. For families seeking a Christmas show that embraces childish fun, delivers laugh-out-loud moments, and creates a genuinely inclusive theatre experience, this four-star production more than earns its applause.
Plays for select performances until 4 January 2026
★★★★
