Nutcracker

'The star of The Nutcracker', says choreographer Peter Wright, 'is Tchaikovsky.' Of course, he's right. The music is the true heart of this ballet, but an equal star is the irresistible joy of Christmas itself. The sincere, heartfelt warmth of Wright's production, which dates from 1984, includes the most glorious Christmas tree of all time. As midnight chimes designer Julia Trevelyan Oman's magical tree starts to grow and grow. Soaring to the skies, and topped off with a shimmering shower of golden stardust, it conjures up the perfect Christmas. The fantastical toytown battle that follows, leading on, through a swirling Land of Snow, to the Sugar Plum Fairy's enchanted Kingdom of Sweets, proves that Peter Wright is a master showman.