Press Release: Scottish Ballet: Nutcracker

[Jan McNulty]

Scottish Ballet: Nutcracker

_______________________________________________________________

 

This winter, prepare to enter a magical world where your dreams really could come true…

 

 

The Nutcracker is based on ETA Hoffman’s Nutcracker and the King of Mice

 

Touring Scotland, Belfast and Newcastle from December 2012 - February 2013

 

Theatre Royal, Glasgow 8 – 29 December 2012

Festival Theatre, Edinburgh 8 – 12 January 2013

His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen 16 – 19 January 2013

Eden Court Theatre, Inverness 23 - 26 January 2013

Grand Opera House, Belfast

Theatre Royal, Newcastle 6 - 9 February 2013

 

Conceived by Ashley Page and Antony McDonald

Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky/ Lighting by Peter Mumford

Associate set designer Juliette Blondelle /Associate costume designer Michelle May

Incorporating original choreography by Lev Ivanov

Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker score will be played live by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra.

 

 

A magical dolls house, an evil governess, and a nutcracker doll who may just be a handsome prince in disguise…

 

One snowy Christmas Eve, Marie hears the story of a brave young man who saves a princess from a horrible curse, and as she sleeps she is transported into a surreal dream world where she must learn to fend for herself and discover the secret of true love.

This sharp and witty production of The Nutcracker has been revisited for 2012 and delves deep into the deliciously darker reaches of Hoffmann’s original tale in a fresh and vivid retelling of the famous Christmas story.

 

Set during the Weimar Republic in Germany, designs for Scottish Ballet’s The Nutcracker are inspired by the vibrant colours and dream-like creations of the German Expressionist painters of the era, with bold designs and quirky characters that deliver a magical Christmas cracker for all ages. There’s tutus and glitter and pointe shoes, but sometimes they’re black pointe shoes and the costumes are exotic, fashionable and chic, and while this is a world inspired by the origins of the story set in the forests of Saxony and Bavaria, it is one draped in 1920s glamour but merged with a magical backdrop of sparkling but bad snowflakes, an army of suffragette styled mice and the eccentric children’s godfather Drosselmeyer dressed in elegant blue feathers by way of the surreal cartoons of expressionist artist Max Ernst.

This Christmas unwrap the perfect package with Scottish Ballet’s The Nutcracker, and for the little ballerina in your life why not make a special gift donation to The Nutcracker Shoe Appeal whereby a donation of £50 or more will be recognised in the special souvenir programme.*

 

Get Closer…

Scottish Ballet once again offers audiences a number of special opportunities through a wide range of school and community programmes as well as its innovative Get Closer programme which include a number of free pre-show talks with the Artistic team and where possible company dancers or Resident Conductor Richard Honner, post-show talks from the stage and even a number of specially scripted Audio Described performances. Enjoy the Insight programme which offers a detailed look at what happens backstage when the Company takes a production on tour or join us for a special Ballet Café – a fun and social afternoon for those aged 50+ where participants are invited to take part in a beginners’ dance session, find out more about The Nutcracker and relax for a chat over tea and cake. See listings for more information.

 

Following on from the success of last year’s 40 Winks, Scottish Ballet offers a dedicated one-off performed dress rehearsal in The Little Nutcracker. This event, for ages 3+, is the perfect way to introduce children to ballet with an enchanting journey into the world of The Nutcracker where they will meet some of the colourful characters from the story, including Marie, the heroine; Drosselmeyer, her godfather, and the evil Dame Mouserink. This fun-filled hour at Glasgow’s Theatre Royal, 3.10pm on Saturday 8 December, shows how ballet can tell a story without words and brings the magic of Scottish Ballet’s spectacular winter production to life before their eyes. And for those who’d like to try out some of the moves then the accompanying Soldiers and Snowflakes workshops – a range of fun, informal practical sessions (including some very special boys only classes for budding little toy soldiers!) are available at partner locations Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow and the National Museum Scotland throughout December and January. Budding little Nutcrackers can also download a free family fun pack from www.scottishballet.co.uk full of games, stories and quirky facts!

 

*The Nutcracker Shoe Appeal.

By the end of The Nutcracker each pair of beautiful satin pointe shoes will have been scraped, sewn, burnt, battered… and have turned a perfect pirouette. What’s more Scottish Ballet dancers will have gone through more than 2,800 pairs of them by Christmas each year. The support of our friends and fans literally is the pointe: helping dancers by giving them the most vital tool of their profession. Every donor will receive a special token of our thanks to mark their involvement in this production. Every donor giving £36 or more will be acknowledged on our website, and those giving £50 or more will be recognised in the production programme. Please note that the cut off point for The Nutcracker programme is 9am Monday 19 November.

For more information on how to give please visit www.scottishballet.co.uk/nutcrackershoeappeal.

 

 

 

LISTINGS: THE NUTCRACKER

Media Partner STV

 

Theatre Royal, Glasgow: 8 - 29 December 2012, Tickets £10–35

Evenings 8, 11-15, 18-20, 22, 27-29 Dec at 7.30pm and 21 Dec at 6pm.

Matinee 13, 15, 20, 22, 24, 28, 29 Dec at 2pm

Get Closer:

· Free pre-show talks with Artistic Staff on Thursday 13 December and with Music Staff on Friday 14th December at 6.30pm. Call box office to reserve tickets.

· Audio described performance on Sat 12 January at 2pm, preceded by a touch tour at 12.30pm.

· Family Insight on Saturday 15 December at 11am. Tickets £5.50, concession £3.50. Suitable for ages 6+.

· Ballet Café on Wednesday 12 December at 2pm. (Booking for Ballet Cafe only: contact Lorna Murray, Education Manager, on education@scottishballet.co.uk or 0141 331 6285.)

Ways to save

£10 Tickets Best available seats for 16–25 year olds, full time students and unwaged. Only available in person, one hour before performance with a valid photo ID card or proof of status.

Family Ticket Groups of 4 (max 2 adults): £59 (Tue–Thu eves), £75 (Fri–Sat eves). Stalls and Upper Circle only.

Box office: 0844 871 7673

 

Festival Theatre, Edinburgh: 8 - 12 January 2013, Tickets £14–£38

Evenings 8-12 Dec at 7.30pm / Matinee 10, 12 Dec at 2pm

Get Closer:

· Free pre-show talks with Artistic Staff on Thursday 10 January and with Music Staff on Friday 11th January at 6.30pm. Call box office to reserve tickets.

Audio described performance on Saturday 12 January at 7.30pm, preceded by a touch tour at 6pm.

Family Insight on Sat 12 January at 11am. Tickets £5.50, concession £3.50. Suitable for ages 6+.

· Ballet Café on Wednesday 9 January at 2pm. (Booking for Ballet Cafe only: contact Lorna Murray, Education Manager, on education@scottishballet.co.uk or 0141 331 6285.)

Ways to save

£10 Tickets Best available seats for 16–25 year olds, full time students and unwaged. Only available in person, one hour before performance with a valid photo ID card or proof of status.

Box office: 0131 529 6000

His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen: 16 - 19 January 2013, Tickets from £12.50-£30.50

Evenings 16-19 Jan at 7.30pm / Matinee 18-19 Jan at 2pm

Get Closer:

· Free pre-show talks with Artistic Staff on Thursday 17 January and with Music Staff on Friday 18 January at 6.30pm. Call box office to reserve tickets.

Audio described performance on Saturday 19 January at 2pm, preceded by a touch tour at 12.30pm.

Family Insight on Sat 19 January at 11am. Tickets £5.50, concession £3.50. Suitable for ages 6+.

Ballet Café on Wednesday 16 January at 2pm. (Booking for Ballet Cafe only: contact Lorna Murray, Education Manager, on education@scottishballet.co.uk or 0141 331 6285.)

Ways to save

£10 Tickets Best available seats for 16–25 year olds, full time students and unwaged. Only available in person, one hour before performance with a valid photo ID card or proof of status.

Box office: 01224 641122

 

Eden Court, Inverness: 23 - 26 January 2013, Tickets from £15.50-£29.50

Evenings 23-26 Jan at 7.30pm / Matinee 24, 26 Jan at 2pm

Get Closer:

· Free pre-show talks with Artistic Staff on Thursday 24 January and with Music Staff on Friday 25 January at 6.30pm. Call box office to reserve tickets.

Audio described performance on Saturday 26 January at 2pm, preceded by a touch tour at 12.30pm.

Insight on Sat 26 January at 11am. Tickets £5.50, concession £3.50. Suitable for ages 14+.

Ballet Café on Wednesday 23 January at 2pm. (Booking for Ballet Cafe only: contact Lorna Murray, Education Manager, on education@scottishballet.co.uk or 0141 331 6285.)

Ways to save

£10 Tickets Best available seats for 16–25 year olds, full time students and unwaged. Only available in person, one hour before performance with a valid photo ID card or proof of status.

Box office: 01463 234 234

 

Grand Opera House, Belfast: 30 January - 02 February 2013, Tickets from £9.25-£36

Evenings 30 Jan - 02 Feb at 7.30pm / Matinees 31 Jan at 2pm, 02 Feb at 2.30pm

Box office: 028 9024 1919

<a name="13abb8d930805b5d_">Theatre Royal, Newcastle: 06 - 09 February 2013, Tickets from £10.50-£36

Evenings 06-09 Feb at 7.30pm / Matinee 07, 09 Feb at 2pm

Box office: 0844 811 2121

 

LISTINGS: THE LITTLE NUTCRACKER and SOLDIERS & SNOWFLAKES WORKSHOPS

In association with The Herald

 

THE LITTLE NUTCRACKER

Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Saturday 8 Dec at 3.10pm (Running Time 60 mins)

Tickets £6 each – returns only (Box office: 0844 871 7647)

What happens when a Christmas present comes to life? Marie is about to find out! Join us for The Little Nutcracker, a special dress rehearsal of Act II of The Nutcracker, in which Marie enters a magical dream world, battles the evil Mouserink and transforms her Nutcracker doll into a handsome prince through the power of true love.

 

 

SOLDIERS & SNOWFLAKES WORKSHOPS

The perfect place for children to take their first ballet steps, Soldiers & Snowflakes workshops have been created for a range of age groups and will combine music and movement, and explore themes from The Nutcracker using games and imagery. Don’t miss our special boys only classes – fun sessions looking at heroes and villains using energetic moves!

 

Glasgow workshops at Kelvingrove Art Gallery:

 

Saturday 24 November

11.15am - 12pm: 3-4 years Parent and Toddler

12.15pm - 1pm: 3-4 years Parent and Toddler

1.30pm - 3pm: 7-9 years

Saturday 1 December

11.15am - 12pm: 3-4 years Parent and Toddler

12.15pm - 1pm: 3-4 years Parent and Toddler

1.30pm - 2.30pm: 5-6 years

2.45pm - 3.45pm: 5-8 years boys only class

Sunday 2 December

11.15am - 12pm: 3-4 years Parent and Toddler

12.15pm - 1pm: 3-4 years Parent and Toddler

1.30pm - 2.30pm: 5-6 years

3pm - 4pm: Little Nutcracker Family Talk

 

Booking Details

All workshops are £5 each including £5 for the combined parent/child booking for the 3-4 yrs w/shops.

The Little Nutcracker family talk is free.

Tickets for Glasgow workshops can be purchased in person at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall or by telephone:

0141 353 8000

 

Edinburgh workshops at the National Museum of Scotland:

 

Friday 28th December

10.30am-11.15am: 3-4 years Parent and Toddler

11.45am-12.30pm: 3-4 years Parent and Toddler

13.30pm-14.30pm: 5-6 years

3pm-4pm: 5-6 years

 

Saturday 29th December

10.30am-11.15am: 3-4 years Parent and Toddler

11.30am-12.30pm: 5-6 years

1.30pm-2.30pm: 5-8 years boys only class

3pm-4.15pm: 7-9 years

 

Thursday 3rd January

10.30am-11.15am: 3-4 years Parent and Toddler

11.30am-12.45pm: 7-9 years

1.30pm-2.30pm: 5-6 years

3pm-4pm: 5-6 years

 

Friday 4th January

10.30am-11.15am: 3-4 years Parent and Toddler

11.45am-12.30pm: 3-4 years Parent and Toddler

Booking Details

All workshops are £6 each including £6 for the combined parent/child booking for the 3-4 yrs workshops.

Tickets for Edinburgh workshops can be purchased in person at the National Museum of Scotland

or by telephone: 0300 123 6789

[Jan McNulty]

Here's a link to a page on Scottish Ballet's website that has got a film trailer for the Nutcrackerand a film of Diana Loosmore "becoming Mouserink":

 

http://www.scottishballet.co.uk/the-nutcracker/films.html