THE NUTCRACKER (The Royal Ballet 2026

Name: THE NUTCRACKER (The Royal Ballet 2026 – 2027)
Genre: Music
Released: 2026-12-06
Duration: 140 min
Cast: Marianna Tsembenhoi (Clara), James Hay (Herr Drosselmeyer), Mayara Magri, Reece Clarke, Taisuke Nakao

What it is about

At a cosy Christmas party, young Clara meets the mysterious magician Drosselmeyer, who gives her a nutcracker doll. When the guests have departed and the house is asleep, Clara sneaks downstairs in search of the doll. Instead, she finds Drosselmeyer, who whisks her away on a journey into a whole world of enchantment: fantastical landscapes of flurried snow and glittering confection where toys come alive and the magic never stops.

Peter Wright’s production of this festive family favourite sparkles to the wondrous swell of Tchaikovsky’s orchestral score, alongside the glow and grandeur of Julia Trevelyan Oman’s period designs.

What to expect

A cinema relay of The Royal Ballet’s 2026–27 *Nutcracker*, recorded live at the Royal Opera House. Peter Wright’s staging leans into old-fashioned spectacle: Julia Trevelyan Oman’s period sets and costumes do a lot of the heavy lifting, and Tchaikovsky’s score carries the rest. There is no dialogue — this is two hours twenty of pure dance, so the experience hinges on whether you enjoy watching ballet on a big screen rather than in a theatre. The cast is led by Marianna Tsembenhoi as Clara and James Hay as Drosselmeyer. It opens in Hong Kong on 6 December 2026. Check with your cinema whether the screening is a recorded capture or a live relay, and whether premium formats are available. No certificate has been confirmed yet.

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