You don’t go to a Matthew Bourne show to see a traditional interpretation of a classical ballet and his Nutcracker! is no different. After seeing six of his shows now, I truly believe Bourne is a master of his craft. Just like his modernised versions of Swan Lake and Romeo And Juliet, although this version hasn’t been onstage for a decade – and celebrates its 30th birthday this year – Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! is a breath of fresh, sugary sweet air.
Gone is the grand Victorian house with the happy children in awe of the spectacular Christmas Tree: this Nutcracker starts in a dystopian, Dickensian orphanage, overseen by a rather Gestapo-esque and soberly costumed Dr Dross and his Wife. Here, the Land Of Sweets is renamed Sweetieland and is populated by the Allsorts trio, the Valley Girl-like Marshmallow Girls and biker boy-style Gobstoppers. The only strange thing about this version? The Nutcracker himself seems to be a ventriloquist dummy, one that turns in to a handsome hunk whom our hero, Clara, must save from the manipulative marriage to Princess Sherbert.
The group dances are pure spectacle, the duet dances beautiful: our Hunky Nutcracker and none-too-innocent Clara – Harrison Dowzell and Katrina Lyndon – are impeccable together. Jonathan Luke Baker, as the slightly creepy yet magnetic Knickerbocker Glory, and Dominic North as saucy Prince Bon-Bon are also standouts.
Regular audience members will be familiar with Bourne’s shows’ elements of the cinematic. While the first act has a referencing foot in German Expressionist cinema – the orphanage set is all angular heights – the second act is pure Wizard Of Oz, even Clara’s blue and white polka dot dress bringing to mind Dorothy’s blue and white gingham. Anthony Ward’s costumes and set designs are breathtaking, especially during the second act which builds to something you could imagine in a diabetic’s fever dream.
For a show that is ideal for children (the adorable enjoyment of the small boy in front of me was such a nice thing to see) this show manages to be sexy and cheeky as well. There’s enough licking going on that Sweetieland must be a sticky place indeed, and its entrance is through a giant mouth…
Sugary pink, smart and funny, New Adventures’ version of The Nutcracker is the perfect antidote for the way things are.
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Tue 22 Mar
Running until Sat 26 Mar. Tickets: from £18. Info: here
words CHRIS WILLIAMS
Discover how our brand new learning experience is giving young people in Wales the skills they need to get ahead.