Kirstel Paterson in The Nutcracker. PICTURE: Oscar O’Ryan.
Cape Town City Ballet heralds the start of its summer programme with The Nutcracker, produced by ballet doyenne Veronica Paeper, from Wednesday December 7 to Friday December 23 at the Artscape Opera House.
Celebrating the 130th anniversary of the premiere of this ballet, the dancers of Cape Town City Ballet will be accompanied by Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Brandon Phillips at select performances. Following nationwide auditions, 40 children will perform alongside the company at each show.
Performed to the music by Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker is set on Christmas Eve at a celebratory gathering. The children receive their special gifts, and Clara is beguiled by her very unusual nutcracker doll. She falls asleep holding her new friend, and dreams that she saves the doll’s life in a “fierce” battle against The Mouse King. Just like that…. the doll magically transforms into a handsome prince, who whisks Clara away to the Kingdom of the Sweets through the Land of Snow.
The enigmatic Sugar Plum Fairy welcomes Clara and the Prince to her land as special guests and treats them to a display of the world’s most delectable indulgences in the Kingdom of the Treats.
The production is suitable for 4 years and over.
Tickets cost from R200 to R495 for performances accompanied by Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra; from R175 to R350 for evening performances to recorded music; and from R175 to R300 for matinee performances to recorded music. There is a R30 discount per ticket for pensioners or block bookings of 10 or more only from the Artscape Box Office. Book through Artscape Dial-A-Seat on 021 421 7695 or Computicket.