New Vic Theatre has released production images for its highly anticipated festive family production of The Nutcracker: A Christmas Fairytale, a magical new spin on the classic story.
Speaking about her inspirations for the production, New Vic Artistic Director Theresa Heskins said: “We’re combining Tchaikovsky’s music with a stronger narrative architecture to create a play for the stage. For Tchaikovsky, Ukraine had been a place of creative inspiration and a refuge where he enjoyed family Christmasses with his beloved sister Sasha. Our production has been inspired by Tchaikovsky’s relationship with his sister’s family, and by the Ukrainian families who have found a refuge in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent over this past year and a half.
For those families who have left their homes to make a new life in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire we have found they have become a valued part of our culture and our community. As part of a new project led by our New Vic Borderlines department, these families who have joined us to see shows, play piano, form choirs, plant a peace garden, enjoy a weekly children’s drama group, develop cultural events, socialise at a weekly Creatives Café and enjoy welcoming food from the New Vic’s Ukrainian chef Yuri, have inspired lots of the content of our show. Two of the members of the Creative Café, have recorded vocals for The Nutcracker’s Waltz of the Snowflakes, and others have written messages of peace and hope for the ‘Love Hearts’ which form part of The Nutcracker set. They have helped us to make a big play about family, and love and loss; about what happens when you are displaced from home and meet new customs and traditions, and how you hold on to your memories. The play is about war, I’m afraid, and the problem of what we can do about it; it is also a story of love, of cultural traditions new and old, and of family and of home. It is a celebration of togetherness.”
Adapted and by Directed by Theresa Heskins (Olivier Award-winning The Worst Witch, West End and Marvellous, New Vic Theatre and West End) with music adapted and directed by James Atherton (UK Theatre Awards Best Show for Children and Young People 2017 The Snow Queen, New Vic Theatre), the new production is set runs at the New Vic until 27 January 2024.
Bringing this much-loved tale to life are Franky Attard, Edwin Cheng, Clara Darcy, Matthew Ganley, Austin Garrett, Amy Louise Harrison, Kaitlin Howard, Abigail Middleton, Maeve Nolan, Adam Scotland, Kate Spencer, and Peter Watts. They will be joined by musicians Leila Marshall, Benjamin Pinto, and Farhaan Shah.
Brought to life in the New Vic’s sensational style by its resident creative team, this new adaptation of the classic festive story is a gripping story for all the ages, packed full of magic, beautiful music, and Christmas sparkle!
The Nutcracker: A Christmas Fairytale is on stage at the New Vic until Saturday 27 January 2024. For more information visit newvictheatre.org.uk.
