The Nutcracker at Den Norske Opera & Ballett

«An explosion of colour, billowing fabrics, a glittering Christmas tree and a smile on every single face,» is how Vårt Land described The Nutcracker i 2013. For many children, The Nutcracker represents their first experience of the Oslo Opera House. For others it's a tradition so strong that Christmas isn't the same without it – and this year our version celebrates its twentieth anniversary.

The Nutcracker is the advent story in which young Clara dreams of mouse soldiers and candy canes, snowflakes and flowers – all of them dancing in a strange land. The entire Norwegian National Ballet and up to a hundred young dancers from the Norwegian National Ballet School appear, accompanied by Tchaikovsky's score played by the Norwegian National Opera Orchestra in the pit.

The Nutcracker has great roles for dancers big and small: Young and Adult Clara, the Snow Queen, the Flower Fairy, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker Prince – everyone gets to show off their talents at Christmas.