The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
Journey into a magical kingdom.
Light up your Christmas with Peter Wright’s enchanting production of The Nutcracker.
Light up your Christmas with Peter Wright’s enchanting production of The Nutcracker.
Royal Ballet and Opera Principal Julia Rausing Trust
Kenneth and Susan Green, Alan and Caroline Howard and Peter Simon
Aud Jebsen
The most magical of fantasies
The magician Herr Drosselmeyer is on a quest to save his nephew. Hans-Peter has been transformed into a Nutcracker doll by the wicked Queen of the Mice; the only way to break the spell is for the Nutcracker to defeat the Mouse King and find a girl to love and care for him. A flicker of hope comes to Drosselmeyer in the form of the young Clara, whom Drosselmeyer meets at the Stahlbaum’s Christmas party. With a swish of Drosselmeyer’s cape and a little bit of magic, a cosy festive gathering turns into a marvellous adventure.
To find out more about the production, including key plot points and background information: read our Ballet Essentials: The Nutcracker page.
Background
A festive firecracker
Peter Wright's production of The Nutcracker has been enchanting children and adults alike since its first performance by The Royal Ballet in 1984. Julia Trevelyan Oman’s designs bring the story wonderfully to life, from the 19th century German home of the Stalbaums – which features a Christmas tree that transforms beyond one’s imagination – to the Kingdom of Sweets, where everything is sugar and sparkle.
A host of musical delights
The Nutcracker includes some of Tchaikovsky’s – and indeed, the classical ballet canon’s – most instantly recognizable tunes. Some familiar highlights include the Waltz of the Flowers, the Dance of the Mirlitons and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, with its signature sound of the twinkling celesta. Many of these melodies have been used in a range of media in popular culture, from festive commercials to Disney’s Fantasia.
Cast and Creatives
Cast
The cast of this production may vary depending on performance date. Go to cast and dates to see these.
Creatives
Peter Wright after Lev Ivanov
Reviews
Access
There is lift access and step-free routes to over 100 seats in the Stalls Circle, Balcony and Amphitheatre. There are 10 steps or fewer to some seats in the Stalls Circle, Balcony, Amphitheatre and the Donald Gordon Grand Tier. All seats in the Orchestra stalls are accessed by 9 steps or more. A handheld bell is rung by Front of House staff to signal guests to take their seats before a performance. The bell is loud and can be startling. The bell is rung approximately ten minutes before the show starts and at each interval.
We have an assistive listening system available to use.
Accessible performances:
There will be an Audio Described performance with a Touch Tour on 27 November 2025 and 5 December 2027. Touch Tours must be booked by contacting boxoffice@roh.org.uk for tickets.
There will be a Captioned performance on 16 December 2025.
Join our Access Scheme for priority access performance tickets and to personalise your account for your access requirements.
See our Accessibility page for more information on access at the Royal Opera House.
Pointe Shoe Appeal
Every season, The Royal Ballet dance through more than 6,000 pairs of pointe shoes—but that’s just the starts of what our dancers wear throughout the year.
With shoes in every style and colour, our footwear team works year-round to ensure that every dancer has the perfect fit, allowing them to step confidently onto the stage night after night. Help them perform to the best of their ability by making a donation to our Pointe Shoe Appeal.
For people, not profit. Making world class ballet and opera for everyone.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775)