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Allison Foat
Cape Town City Ballet (CTCB), South Africa’s most established ballet company, will proudly present The Nutcracker at Artscape from Friday December 13, 2024. Choreographed and directed by Veronica Paeper and set to Tchaikovsky's glorious score, this eagerly awaited holiday season production will bring CTCB’s 90th anniversary year to a sparkling close.
The charming tale revolves around young Clara and the nutcracker doll she receives as a gift from her mysterious godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer. As the family’s Christmas party ends and the clock strikes midnight, the magic begins as she is whisked away by a handsome prince on a wondrous adventure.
From a giant Christmas tree to toy soldiers, mischievous mice, dancing snowflakes and waltzing flowers, an enchanting story unfolds that culminates in the Land of Sweets where Clara meets the Sugar Plum Fairy and her new friends from around the world.
In various lead roles will be Kirstél Paterson, Leusson Muniz, Leanè Theunissen and Hannah Ward, with Paige McElligott and Jordan Roelfze making their debuts as the Sugar Plum and Prince. Guest artists for this season are Ruan Galdino from WGRUV as one of the Princes and Marcel Meyer as Herr Drosselmeyer. As always, talented dancers from as young as six years old will join the production from dance schools and academies in and around Cape Town. They will be performing as party children, angels, snowdrops, mice and soldiers and it goes without saying that this timeless classic will be a delight for audiences of all ages.
“Veronica Paeper’s The Nutcracker blends tradition with innovation, making this classic tale sparkle with renewed vibrancy and it is the perfect holiday entertainment for the whole family,” says Tracy Li, CTCB’s Artistic Manager.
Set and costumes are designed by Peter Cazalet in association with Marcel Meyer, and lighting design is by Faheem Bardien.
There will be a Fairy Parade directly after the 12pm matinee on Tuesday December 24, 2024. This is a wonderful opportunity for children attending, whether dressed up as fairies or not, to go onto the stage after the performance to meet the cast and have a photo with the dancers.
The Nutcracker runs from December 13 to December 29, 2024, with tickets from R200 to R400 through Webtickets and Artscape Dial-A-Seat on 021 421 7695. A 10% discount applies to Pensioners and Students (with a valid ID) and for group bookings of ten or more. Follow @capetowncityballet on social media for the latest updates and glimpses behind-the-scenes.