Y DANCE
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Nutcracker! by Matthew Bourne
Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! was first created for Opera North in 1992 and retains key elements and main themes of Tchaikovsky’s original ballet. The bleak beginning of Act One is a nod to the original story by Hoffman.
Matthew Bourne created this new scenario with Martin Duncan to rework the traditional Christmas story.
Director & Choreographer: Matthew Bourne
Set Design : Anthony Ward
Partly realistic but larger than life and almost cartoon-like. Scene 1 is an austere, drab orphanage with iron beds. There is an interval scene on a frozen lake and Scene 2, entered through a large mouth, represents Sweetieland – complete with a
massive three-tier wedding cake.
Costume Design: Anthony Ward
Colourful and ‘over the top’ to show characters. Cultural influences and literal references to sweets.
Lighting Designer: Howard Harrison
Theatrical, helps to create atmosphere
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Classical, orchestral. Composed in 1892 for the original Ivanov ballet.
Structure: Two acts with nine episodes (original version).
Stimulus: The original classical ballet, the music. Victorian childhood.
Theme: The Nutcracker story retold with references to adolescence, escapism, fantasy and satire.
Structure: Two acts with nine episodes (original version).
Dance style: Contemporary and balletic. Exaggerated but realistic use of gestures.
