Birmingham Royal Ballet has announced the return of Sir Peter Wright’s celebrated production of The Nutcracker to Birmingham Hippodrome this Christmas, marking the grand finale of the company’s celebrations for the legendary director’s 100th birthday year.
The much-loved production will run from 20 November to 12 December 2026, bringing one of the world’s most acclaimed versions of the festive classic back to its Birmingham home.
Created by Sir Peter Wright as a gift to Birmingham in 1990, The Nutcracker has become a cherished Christmas tradition for generations of theatregoers. Featuring designs by John Macfarlane and Tchaikovsky’s iconic score performed live by the 60-strong Royal Ballet Sinfonia, the production combines dazzling choreography, spectacular stagecraft and festive magic.
Audiences can look forward to daring swordfights, falling snow, a towering 30-foot Christmas tree and a magical journey through the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets.
Birmingham Royal Ballet Director Carlos Acosta said: “As always, it is a pleasure to see The Nutcracker return to Birmingham Hippodrome, now in its 36th year since the production’s world premiere here in the city.
“Every year I delight in seeing generations come together to enjoy this magical production, some of them for the very first time and some in a long tradition of enjoying our glorious Nutcracker every festive season.
“This season is made even more special as we celebrate the 100th birthday years of our Founding Director Laureate, Sir Peter Wright. His production of The Nutcracker is widely regarded as one of the finest in the world and can only be found in Birmingham this Christmas.”
Principal casting will feature a host of Birmingham Royal Ballet stars throughout the run, including Céline Gittens, Momoko Hirata, Yu Kurihara, Sofia Liñares, Miki Mizutani, Katherine Ochoa, Beatrice Parma, Yaoqian Shang and Lucy Waine as the Sugar Plum Fairy, alongside Enrique Bejarano Vidal, Tzu-Chao Chou, Mathias Dingman, Haoliang Feng, Yasiel Hodelín, Riku Ito, Mason King, Max Maslen and Lachlan Monaghan as The Prince.
The role of Clara will be performed by Olivia Chang Clarke, Rosanna Ely, Reina Fuchigami, Alisa Garkavenko, Maïlène Katoch, Sofia Liñares, Katherine Ochoa, Rachele Pizzillo and Sophie Walters, while Olivia Chang Clarke, Rosanna Ely, Reina Fuchigami, Alisa Garkavenko, Céline Gittens, Miki Mizutani, Beatrice Parma, Rachele Pizzillo, Lucy Waine, Yuki Sugiura and Amelia Thompson will perform as the Rose Fairy.
Conductors Giovanni Fanizza, Thomas Jung, Subin Kim, Paul Murphy and Yi Wei will lead the Royal Ballet Sinfonia throughout the season.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
