‘The Nutcracker and I’, by Alexandra Dariescu is a new and innovative 50-minute live performance based on the magical Christmas story, for anyone who dares to dream. Alexandra inspires the audience by telling us her own story as Clara: from little girl to concert pianist and invites us to use our own imagination, to hope, work hard and never give up.

On stage will be a grand piano, played by Dariescu herself, and ballerina Désirée Ballantyne behind a see-through gauze screen. Projected onto the gauze and bringing the story to life are exquisite digital animations, all hand drawn and created in advance by Yeast Culture. They follow the music and engage live with the pianist and ballerina as they ‘dance’ across the screen. The audience will feel like they are actually in and a part of The Nutcracker story.

Tchaikovsky’s enchanting ballet music features throughout and includes favourites such as Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Arabian Dance, Chinese Dance, Pax de Deux, and the Flower Waltz, in 15 virtuosic arrangements by composers such as Mikhail Pletnev, Stepan Esipoff, Percy Grainger and three brand new adaptations by Gavin Sutherland.

Performed and produced by Alexandra Dariescu 
Directed by Nick Hillel 
Art director and director of animation Adam Smith 
Choreographer Jenna Lee 
Ballerina Désirée Ballantyne
Technical producer Sander Loonen
Video design produced by Yeast Culture