Prologue
We meet Uncle Drosselmeyer in his workshop creating magical toys for his niece and nephew, Clara and Fritz.
Act I
It’s Christmas Eve, and the Stahlbaum’s house is decorated for their annual Christmas party, with the breathtaking centre piece a majestic, twinkling Christmas tree. The Stahlbaum children, Fritz and Clara, wait excitedly for the arrival of their family and friends.
The guests arrive and at last, the festivities can begin. However, a mysterious guest appears, frightening Fritz, but Clara recognises him as Uncle Drosselmeyer, the toymaker. Uncle Drosselmeyer brings magic to the party and delights the children with the handmade gifts he has brought with him.
Fritz is given a trumpet but grows jealous when Clara is given the best gift of all, a wooden Nutcracker doll. He snatches it from Clara causing it to break. Luckily, Uncle Drosselmeyer is there to repair the Nutcracker.
The party has gone late into the night and the children are sleepy. The guests thank the Stahlbaum’s for their generous hospitality before they all depart into the inky dark night.
Unable to sleep from all the excitement, Clara creeps downstairs to find her Nutcracker doll. Uncle Drosselmeyer mysteriously reappears on the stroke of midnight, to continue the magic he started earlier. Suddenly Clara finds herself in the middle of a battle between her Nutcracker, his army of toy soldiers, and the cheeky Rat King and his band of pirate rats. With her help, the Nutcracker doll defeats the Rat King and his motley crew. Uncle Drosselmeyer again uses his magic to turn the Nutcracker into a Prince.
Clara and the Nutcracker Prince dance together after their victory and the room transforms into a Winter Wonderland with the Snow Queen and snowflakes dancing around them.
Uncle Drosselmeyer appears and whisks Clara and the Nutcracker Prince away in his sleigh to the enchanting Land of Sweets.
Act II
The magical sleigh makes its way to the Land of Sweets, and Clara is filled with anticipation and excitement of what’s to come. Clara can’t believe her eyes when they finally arrive; cupcake mountains topped with whipped cream whiter than snow, sweet candy-cane poles and buttercream icing everywhere she looks.
They are graciously greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. As the travellers re-enact the night’s events, the Sugar Plum Fairy becomes impressed with Clara’s bravery and the Nutcracker’s heroism.
In their honour, the Sugar Plum Fairy throws a lavish festival in the Candy Castle, with the trio as honoured guests. Clara is tempted by the delicious treats, and delighted by the dances. The Nutcracker Prince and Sugar Plum Fairy perform a beautiful showstopping dance, that is lighter than air. The magical festival concludes when everyone comes together on the court for one final dance, which completes Clara’s most perfect evening.
Even though she wishes the adventure would never end, it’s time to say goodbye. Uncle Drosselmeyer and Clara return to the sleigh and make their way home.