Director-choreographer Will Tuckett is on track to stage the world’s first immersive ballet through the classic The Nutcracker. Named solely Nutcracker, the production will enable audiences to explore the world of Tchaikovsky’s Christmas ballet first hand. Last year Alice’s Adventures Underground took place in the Waterloo Vaults in London, and this year an immersive dining experience surrounding Roald Dahl’s The Twits will disgust and delight, demonstrating the aptitude for this type of performance. Audiences – as well as artists – constantly strive for new experiences.
Nutcracker will therefore see innovative new staging; it will run in a 20,000 ft. temporary structure in Wembley Park and will feature live musicians, as well as a cast of over 40 performers, who will be from the world of ballet, and musical and immersive theatre. The production is touted to be a completely fresh approach to a classic ballet, taking the world of the story of The Nutcracker to the widest possible audience. With much experience under his belt, such as his 2014 Wind in the Willows, it looks as though Tuckett’s Nutcracker will be a magical experience
Dancer Adam Cooper, who created the role of the swan in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake and starred in Singin’ In The Rain will perform in the piece as Uncle Drosselmeyer. The piece will last 90 minutes and has musical arrangement from Andy Massey and set design from Colin Richmond. Woodroffe Bassett Design, the designers responsible for the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony, will be in charge of the lighting design.
Tuckett’s Nutcracker will run in a temporary theatre from 30 November to 8 January, and will allow audiences to interact with the dancers in a 360-degree environment, visit the toy factory and travel through snow-capped forest of trees.