THE MAN WHO GAVE BRUM CHRISTMAS TURNS 100

A hundred candles would be a lot to ask of a cake, so Birmingham Royal Ballet is going with a 30-foot Christmas tree. Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker returns to Birmingham Hippodrome from Friday, November 20 to Saturday, December 12, rounding off a year of celebrations for the company’s Founding Director Laureate. Wednesday, November 25 is Sir Peter’s actual 100th birthday, if you’re picking the best night to raise a glass.

Sir Peter created this staging as a gift to Birmingham, and we’ve been unwrapping it for more than three decades. You can see why. There are swordfights, falling snow and John Macfarlane’s sets, which make most of our efforts with a string of fairy lights look frankly apologetic. Tchaikovsky’s score comes courtesy of the 60-strong Royal Ballet Sinfonia, playing live in the pit.

It’s the story of Clara, whose Christmas Eve goes considerably further off-script than most, taking in a battle with the Rat King and an encounter with the Sugar Plum Fairy. If this is your first time, the moment that tree starts growing is worth keeping an eye on. If you’ve been before, you’ll know exactly when to look. Tickets