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What an absolute treat to have Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker grace the stage at The Lowry.

Matthew Bourne is somewhat of a legend in the dance community and creates the most magnificent productions. And Nutcracker is no different!

Want more Matthew Bourne work? Don’t forget to read this review of his Swan Lake

Trademark twist

You may be familiar with the original story but Bourne has made his trademark twist.

On Christmas Eve, we meet a group of children at an Orphanage who are mistreated by the villainous Dr Dross and his wife. But they are forced to prove to the Governors how wonderful their Orphanage is.

They are kindly given a present each to cherish before the spectators leave. Abruptly, their cruel environment returns and they are put back into bed and their toys removed.

Until Clara defiantly looks for her Ventriloquist Dummy, and finds he magically comes to life. In her dream state, the Orphanage is demolished and she goes on an adventure to The Frozen Lake before taking the road to Sweetieland.

A playful world

Many of the plots points from the original Nutcracker remain, such as the gigantic growing Christmas tree, the Nutcracker (or in this case, Dummy) transforming into a handsome boy and the delightful snowy scene.

But they have made the Nutcracker even more wonderous by having the creative license to retell the story. From The Marshmallow girls and Princess Sugar to the Allsorts Trio and Knickerbocker Glory, you’re invited into this playful world of sugar and candy.

This is captured most imaginatively though the colourful costuming and staging. Moving from a skewed, grey and bleak Orphanage to the silver frosted Lake and even more impressively, the character adorned Wedding Cake, it’s a visual sensation.

The choreography is quirky and ethereal and dramatic and sensitive. It’s a pick and mix of styles that pleases every taste bud. But what always makes Matthew Bourne’s productions stand out is the dedication to storytelling through the expression.

The cherry on top

Sugar (Ashely Shaw) and Fritz (Dominic North) are real stand outs as the bratty children of the Orphanage owners, and then obnoxious royalty in the dream world. Every movement is exaggerated and they successfully create a lot of the laughter in the audience.

The Cupids (Katrina Lyndon and Keenan Fletcher) are a warming presence in the show as Clara’s wing man and woman [literally] and The Kinckerbocker Glory (Jonathon Luke Baker) creates a totally different vibe in their sultry and strange performance.  

I enjoyed the idea that her orphan friends and cruel carers transform into relevant characters in her dream. It weaves the story together and puts a cherry on top!

The Nutcracker is a fabulous festive treat that is an imaginative and joyful invite to your inner child.

Playing at The Lowry in Salford until Saturday 4 December 2021.

Find out when it’s coming near you.

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Photo credits: Johan Persson