LITTLE BULB'S THE NUTCRACKER - St. Martin's Theatre (12/12/25)

Cast of mice lead this adorable, family-friendly reframing of Hoffmann's classic story

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We all know the Nutcracker by now, even if it's by means of casually having noticed that the famous Pyotr Tchaikovsky ballet is performing at your local theatre. You are unlikely, however, to have ever seen the Alexandre Dumas retelling of E. T. A. Hoffman's original story performed in such a way as we've experienced from this co-production between Little Bulb and Polka Theatre.

After a pre-show warmup performance of classic Christmas songs, where our five performers showcase their musical abilities (including some pretty terrific vocal harmonies) and winning personalities, building a marvellous sense of rapport with their young audience, we get right into the heart of the action. Our story follows siblings Clara and Fritz, constantly at each other's throats, as they contend with moving into a "very dilapidated" new home with their widowed father, when suddenly their brand new nutcracker, gifted from their auntie, shrinks them down to the size of mice, as they attempt to rescue their father's expensive block of cheese from the nefarious, antagonistic mouse king.

Right off the bat, through their tackling of serious issues and dedication to scattering subtle learning moments into their narrative, it's clear that Little Bulb have no intention of underestimating the intelligence, emotional or otherwise, of the "little mice' in the audience, a trap that has befallen many a children's writer. Our quirky quintet guide us through a whole host of weird and wonderful characters, including the wisen, majestically bearded elder mouse, frenetic and energetic sugar plum fairy, and the kids' eccentric auntie Drosselmeyer.

The company of "The Nutcracker" (credit: Steve Gregson)

Though much of the content is playful and childlike, there is a decent amount of the story that will appease kids and adults alike, including some darker, more frightening moments. In particular, the shadow puppet show, during which we learn more about the backstory of our main villain, is vivid and profound, and even some of the more grown up audience members will likely have felt something stir from the evocative imagery we experience.

Not every joke hits as the cast would necessarily have wanted, for example there is a smattering of toilet humour, which did elicit mixed responses even from our younger attendees. In spite of this, there is a distinct charm about how this retelling is presented, which stems from it being so unashamedly low-budget, with a set (designed by Sam Wilde) featuring cardboard boxes galore, that we feel a fabulously enhanced sense of imagination. Not only this though, but the cast each shine individually, and there is a delightful cohesion about both the combination of performers on stage and the quality of storytelling.

The company of "The Nutcracker" (credit: Steve Gregson)

There is so much wonder and whimsy about this interpretation of Dumas' iteration of the story, from the shimmering coloured lights adorning the first tier of the auditorium, to how smooth the transitions are. Clare Beresford's kooky, caricaturish performance as the mouse king contrasts marvellously with her murine faced narration, and Shamira Turner shows some equally impressive multiroling, as both the dad and the sugar plum fairy. This cast has magnificent range, and though the switching up of roles may not have fooled many of the kids, they still managed to fully engaged them for the entire 65 minute runtime.

This is a staging of maximum imagination, with no shortage of festive magic, but with a beautiful message that encompasses the overriding themes of family, teamwork, facing our fears, and the importance of sharing; The Nutcracker is bound to strike a chord with audiences of all ages this Christmas season.

★★★★☆ (4*)

"The Nutcracker" runs at the St. Martin's Theatre until the 4th of January (tickets)

{PR/Gifted tickets}