The Stage

Exclusive: O2 to host The Nutcracker at Christmas

Published Thursday 30 June 2011 at 11:40 by Matthew Hemley

The O2 in London is to host its second ballet following the success of Romeo and Juliet earlier this month, with a production of The Nutcracker.

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker will play at the O2 between Christmas and New Year, and is expected to feature more than 60 dancers, who will be accompanied by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

The production follows the Royal Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet, which featured Carlos Acosta, and which ran for four performances at the London arena.

BRB’s The Nutcracker has choreography by Peter Wright, Vincent Redmon and Lev Ivanov. Wright will oversee the production, which will also be performed at the Birmingham Hippodrome from November 25 until December 11.

It is understood that the company’s principal dancers will take it in turns to perform in the lead roles at the O2, and the show will run for around six performances.

Wright’s The Nutcracker was first performed by BRB in 1990.

Full details are expected to be announced in the next few days.