Christmas would not be Christmas without a production of The Nutcracker. This year, a South African twist has been given to the well-loved ballet.
A LOCAL adaptation of The Nutcracker premieres at Gold Reef City's Lyric Theatre next week, with a promise to be eclectic and vibrant, a magical treat for audiences of all ages.
It will run from 20 to 30 November. Originally written in 1816 by Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann, Dirk Badenhorst, the director of Mzansi Productions - the show's producers - notes that the South African adaptation has a different storyline, one pertinent to the country.
"This Nutcracker is different in that it has a completely different storyline which reflects on South Africa, and we have also used local artists," he confirms.
Yarisha Singh rehearses the Spanish divertissement (Photo: Susanne Holbaek)
The well-loved ballet has been choreographed by South African choreographers Adèle Blank and David Gouldie.
Traditionally a Christmas ballet, the original is set in the cold winter of the festive season in the northern hemisphere. Badenhorst explains that his production is set in summer. "We have chosen a summery setting, where instead of the snow, we journey to the land of sand."
While the ballet retains its traditional characters, it has a South African feel to it, delivering a familiar festive cheer that audiences anticipate from the production.
The dancers are children from the Ballet and Dance Academy and the Roodepoort Youth Ballet. "[Our] dancers are skilled in all the important dance genres and [are] able to perform in classical, neo classical and modern works," he notes.
The Nutcracker is the story of Clara, who dreams of the Nutcracker Prince and his ferocious battle against the Rat King. "With a classic feel-good story that appeals to young and old alike, this production promises to be a magical experience for the festive season," Badenhorst notes.
"Audiences will enjoy the South African twist to the Rat King and will have to see it for themselves at a performance." He says the audience will be drawn into the mystery and adventure as the Prince and Clara embark on a magical journey to an exotic destination.
Melodies used in the ballet will be recognised by the audience, he says, because of their frequent use in television and film advertisements.
The production company is already swamped with requests from Holland to come play, Badenhorst says.
The "exquisite" stage has been designed by Andrew Botha, and is a Christmas spectacular. It will tickle the fancies of every family member and add to the illusion and magic associated with The Nutcracker, says Badenhorst.
The original fairytale, The Nutcracker and the King of Mice, was written and published by Hoffman, a German caricaturist, composer, jurist and writer. In his story, Hoffmann tells the story of a young girl, Clara, who is given a nutcracker as a Christmas present. She grows fond of the gift which later comes alive and takes her to a magical empire.
The story was adapted into a ballet, The Nutcracker, in 1892 by Russian composer Pyotr Ily Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreographers Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, and has since become popular around the world.
The Mzanzi production debuts at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City on Tuesday, 20 November, and will run for a week-and-a-half until Sunday, 30 November. Weekday performances are at 8pm; weekend matinees are scheduled for 3pm.
Show tickets range in price from R69 to R199 per person and school and university bookings can be arranged in the morning or afternoon.
Booking is at Computicket outlets, on 011 340 8000, or through the Computicket website. There are discounts of 10 percent on block-bookings for groups of 10 or more people, and all tickets to the opening night are half-price.
For further information, telephone Leon Bezuidenhout on 012 665 0293, or 082 459 6748; or fax on 086 557 9218 or email him at
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