The Nutcracker (The Australian Ballet), at the Ian Potter State Theatre and Joan Sutherland Theatre

What a pleasure it was to be in the audience to see such a spectacular production of the first ballet to be performed at the newly refurbished State Theatre three years on.

Composed by Tchaikovsky, with choreography by Peter Wright, Lev Ivanov and Vincent Redmon, complete with additional choreography by the Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Nutcracker is an absolute delight.

Photos by Kate Longley

Featuring artists of The Australian Ballet, with Orchestra Victoria under the masterful baton of Jonathan Lo, and the Australian Boys Choir, the dancers light up the stage.

Led by Yuumi Yamada (as Clara), Maxim Zenin (as the Prince), Sharni Spencer (as Sugar Plum Fairy) and Jarryd Madden (as the magician), it is ballet at its finest.

The story is set on Christmas Eve.

Dr Stahlbaum and his former ballerina wife, who have two children – 15-year-old Clara and her younger brother Fritz – are giving a lavish party.

Mrs Stahlbaum has invited some of Clara’s friends from the ballet school where Clara is training.

Mrs Stahlbaum has organised a magician, Drosselmeyer, to provide entertainment.

He brings gifts for the children, including a Nutcracker doll – carved to look like a soldier in uniform – for Clara, which Fritz snatches, before breaking off its head.

But this is a doll with magical powers and, mysteriously, it mends itself.

Later that night, as the clock strikes midnight, having crept downstairs, unable to sleep, Clara is enveloped in a fantasy world, in which the Nutcracker springs to life.

Clara becomes enmeshed in a battle between giant rats and toy soldiers, as she springs to the aid of the Nutcracker, who turns into a handsome prince.

More fantastic adventures await before Clara awakens from her dream at the foot of the large, festooned family Christmas tree.

The Australian Ballet’s The Nutcracker is grand and lavish, a wonderland of the magical and the magnificent.

With high leaping, pirouettes, a cavalcade of extraordinary artistry, and surprises aplenty, the work is enchanting.

Light on her feet, Yuumi Yamada brings wonderment and bravery to Clara, who is rewarded by Drosselmeyer in Act II with a showcase of balletic delights.

A succession of performers in a variety of combinations – solo, duet and company numbers – wow the audience with a sublime, stylish and diverse repertoire.

From the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, accompanied by the iconic celesta sound, to high energy Cossack dance and much more, it is such a treat.

The piece de resistance is a soaring pas de deux between the Sugar Plum Fairy and the cavalier.

The highlights of The Nutcracker are plentiful.

Among the standouts are Elijah Trevitt’s short bursts as the Jack-in-the-box. Timothy Coleman makes a suitably sinister King Rat, while Daniel Bryne makes his presence felt as the Nutcracker doll.

Jarryd Madden impresses as the prestidigitator, who owns the stage when he appears. Maxim Zenin is stately as the Prince and Sharni Spencer enchanting as the Sugar Plum Fairy.

In fact, all are worthy of mention, for the entire company is to be congratulated for the beauty and grandeur of its performance.

But what would grand ballet be without staging and this is also where The Australian Ballet has excelled with The Nutcracker.

Beginning with an opulent, rich red palette, with three set changes in the first act alone, John F. Macfarlane’s set and costume design (114 costumes are worn in any single performance) are breathtaking.

In short, I was awe-struck by the beauty and creativity involved.

Aiding the cause exceptionally well is the original lighting design by David A. Finn and Bosco Shaw’s relighting.

I existed the theatre on cloud nine having witnessed the very best of The Australian Ballet in a tour de force production.

Two hours five minutes, including a 25-minute interval, The Nutcracker is on at Ian Potter State Theatre until 31^st October.

With the Opera Australia Orchestra, it then plays at the Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Sydney Opera House from 28^th November to 16^th December, 2026.