The Royal Albert Hall and Birmingham Royal Ballet present The Nutcracker with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia from December 29th to December 30th 2025.

The Nutcracker brings the magic of Christmas to The Royal Albert Hall again this year. Performed by the Birmingham Royal Ballet and set to the music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

The Toymaker’s shop sits centre stage as the auditorium fills up. The projected figures inside the shop can be seen through the frosted windows as they busily prepare the toys for the children in preparation for Christmas Day.

Simon Callow narrates the voice-over of the toymaker Drosselmeyer who designs toys and dolls for the local children. However, he is especially looking forward to seeing the look on his niece’s face when he presents her with the special toy he has built for her in the form of The Nutcracker.

One of the exceptionally good scenes is the dance of the Snowflakes, as they draw to a close the front of the auditorium becomes a wintery scene as the snow falls onto the dancers and audience.

The Ballet offers all the familiar scenes expected from The Nutcracker from the elegant dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy and the growing Christmas Tree which takes shape on the enormous screens on either side of the stage accompanied by large baubles that lower down from the ceiling.

All giving the illusion that Clara is inside the Christmas Tree preparing for her flight to the magical land of the toys, where she meets many of her Uncle’s creations.

Paul Murphy conducted the Orchestra again this year. Bringing the magical score by Tchaikovsky to life with the large orchestra raised above the stage at the back underneath The Royal Albert Hall’s impressive built in organ.

For a touch of Christmas magic in one of the most prestigious buildings in the United Kingdom, The Nutcracker is a magical family seasonal treat. The two primary-aged girls who sat behind me were captivated throughout the performance and commented at the end on how much they enjoyed it. Which echoes my own feelings about the Ballet.

For more information about The Nutcracker and the 2026 programme of events and performances at The Royal Albert Hall please use the link below.

Five Stars

https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2025/the-nutcracker

https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets

Cast

Simon Callow as the Voice of Drosselmeyer

The Sugar Plum Fairy – Beatrice Parma

The Prince – Tzu-Chao Chou

Drosselmeyer – August Generalli

Clara – Rosanna Ely

The Magician’s Assistant Alfie-Lee Hall
Clara’s Mother – Daria Stanciulescu
Clara’s Father – Jonathan Payn
Fritz Lawson Hateley Clara’s younger brother
Clara’s Dancing Partner Enrique Bejarano Vidal
Grandmother – Karla Doorbar

Grandfather – Rory Mackay
Butler – Rafael Bejarano Vidal
Harlequin – Tom Hazelby
Columbine – Yuki Sugiura
Jack-in-the-Box – Javier Rojas

Ballet students, Cadets, Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet
Guests, Children Students of Elmhurst Ballet School and
The Royal Ballet School.
The Nutcracker Doll – Alfie-Lee Hall
The Rat King – Mason King
Soldiers, Rats Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet
The Snow Fairy – Yu Kurihara
Her Attendants – Frieda Kaden, Amelia Thompson, Eilis Small, Lucy Waine.

Winds, Gabriel Anderson, Enrique Bejarano Vidal,
Haoliang Feng, Miles Gilliver.

Snowflakes Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Conductor – Paul Murphy.