Getting into the Christmas spirit, Hannah Millbank and family enjoyed the Bristol Old Vic’s festive production of The Nutcracker
Forget the sweet and sugar-coated story that comes when you watch the pretty pirouetting that symbolises the traditional Nutcracker ballet. Instead, the Bristol Old Vic’s festive production combines rock-guitar wielding mice, a body-popping nutcracker and a clock-mender who bends time.
Opening with young Claire, pleading with her workaholic mother, dreamer father and tween brother, to help find her missing imaginary unicorn, the story quickly transforms into magical weirdness as a gift-bearing, tweed-wearing clock-mender knocks on the door. Soon, a tiny multi-talented nine-strong cast of instrument-playing actors, are transported into a world where toys come alive and magical miracles are performed by a mouse queen.
But don’t be fooled, while magic and imagination run wild throughout, this production doesn’t shy away from a dark edginess. At times, the whole family will be on the edge of their seats, though be aware that younger children may find the drama a bit too much, which is why it’s recommended for ages seven years and up.
As Claire clambers onto a stool to place her brand new nutcracker on the top of the Christmas tree, a tumble knocks her unconscious. Helped by the glam rock music and a tale within a tale of treating others as equals, we’re drawn into her dreams where she sets out to save her beloved nutcracker from the curse of the Mouse Queen.
It’s always a pleasure to visit the beautiful, 250-year-old theatre on Bristol’s King Street, and our two primary-aged boys were mesmerised by the setting before the actors even stepped foot on the stage. Once they did, they remained enthralled for the whole performance, jumping each time the Mouse Queen threw another booming curse across the stage and tapping their feet to the play’s live musical soundtrack.
At times the story lost me a little, but that didn’t take away from the overall magic that comes from attending an electrifying festive production in the run up to Christmas.
The show runs until Saturday 7 January, with additional matinee performances as well as accessible and socially distanced options throughout the school Christmas holidays. bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/the-nutcracker