THE NUTCRACKER Comes to Cape Town Starting Tonight

The world's favourite Christmas ballet, THE NUTCRACKER, is coming to Cape Town this festive season. Presented by the Cape Town City Ballet (CTCB), the beloved fairytale ballet will open at the Artscape Theatre tonight 15 December and run until 24 December, culminating in the company's hugely popular annual 'Fairy Parade'.

Danced to the enchanting music of Tchaikovsky, audiences can once again look forward to joining the adventures of young Clara and Fritz, while being transported to a magical Christmas world. It is Christmas Eve and Clara receives a beautiful Nutcracker doll as a gift from her mysterious toymaker uncle, Herr Drosselmeyer. Out of spite, her naughty brother Fritz gets hold of it and breaks the doll in half. However, Clara's uncle quickly fixes the doll and from that moment on all kinds of magic happens.

In Clara's dream world, the Nutcracker Prince comes to life and defeats the evil Rat King and his army. She travels through a magical snowstorm to an exquisite enchanted island where she is transformed into the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy. A joyous celebration follows, filled with dances from all over the world, as well as the famous grand pas de deux danced by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince - all coming together in a beautiful flight of fantasy for festive season ballet audiences!

Says producer Prof Elizabeth Triegaardt:

This traditional version of the ballet is that of Russian choreographer, Viktor Vynonen, and was last seen in Cape Town in 2012. The pas de deux for the Snow Queen and Prince, choreographed by David Poole, has been added to the wondrous Snow scene, while the delightful Madam Bon Bon makes a welcome return to the last act.

Former CTCB dancer, Kirstel Jensen, currently a member of Joburg Ballet, returns for the season to dance the dream role of the Sugar Plum Fairy and will be partnered by Thomas Thorne as her Nutcracker Prince. Other dancers making their debuts in these roles are Rosamund Ford, dancing with Daniel Szybkowski, Meghan Henegan with Revil Yon and Cleo Ames with Conrad Nusser. For the roles of the Snow Queen and Prince, Angela Hansford will be partnered by Daniel Szybkowski, Kim Vieira will dance with Ivan Boonzaaier and Claire Spector with Jesse Milligan.

For the annual CTCB 'Fairy Parade' on 24 December, boys and girls are invited to attend the 14:00 performance of THE NUTCRACKER dressed up as their favourite fairy tale characters. When the performance ends, all the children in the audience will be invited on to the stage to meet the dancers, as well as receive a surprise gift from Santa Claus.

Bookings for THE NUTCRACKER can be made at Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695. Ticket prices range from R120 - R160.

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