ACT ONE

Christmas Eve at Dr Dross’s Orphanage for Waifs and Strays 

The young residents of the orphanage (all played by adult dancers) are dressed in black and grey – matching their dark, gloomy and monochrome surroundings. Watched closely by Dr Dross, his wife, Mrs Dross, and their two children, Sugar and Fritz, it is quickly evident that the children are fearful, downbeat and reliant on one another for friendship and support.  

It is Christmas Eve and the orphans are visited by a number of the orphanage’s Governors. Dr and Mrs Dross are intent on ensuring that the visitors leave feeling satisfied that the orphans under their care are happy and thriving and goad the children into a series of dance and athletic shows of strength to assure them of their good health.  

The orphanage is briefly decorated with festive garlands and a Christmas tree is rolled out to give the illusion of a place imbued with the spirit of the holiday season. Yet, as soon as the patrons leave, all the niceties are withdrawn and the tree is thrown out of the window. Toys that the orphans have been given are taken away, including a nutcracker doll that had been gifted to Clara.  

The orphans are packed off to bed; including a devastated Clara who is desperate to get her toy back. Believing no-one to be around, Clara gets out of bed and tries to retrieve her nutcracker doll from the cupboard into which it was put. The clock strikes midnight… Clara hears someone entering the room and runs back to bed. Sugar appears and is looking for the nutcracker doll. Sugar opens the cupboard…only to find that the toy doll is now a huge, life-size, walking, talking Nutcracker. Terrified, Sugar runs away, leaving a curious Clara to find out who this giant doll is and why he has appeared.  

The Nutcracker appears to have come to help the orphans and starts breaking apart the walls of the orphanage, revealing that the previously discarded Christmas tree has grown to giant proportions on the outside, which they can use to aid their escape. But, before they can leave, Dr Dross and his family reappear to find out what all the commotion is. Encouraged by his presence, the orphans begin a revolt against Dr and Mrs Dross and their two children, tying them to the beds with bedsheets, before making their exit from the orphanage – led by the Nutcracker.

A Frozen Lake 

We’re suddenly transported to a crystalised kingdom of snow and ice, all blue skies and fluffy white clouds and winter chill. The music is lighter, brighter, more positive and upbeat and the stage is soon filled with pure-white costumes, including woolly hats and scarves. The only hint of pink comes from Princess Sugar in her candy-floss coloured dress and sparkling tiara.   

Whilst Clara and Nutcracker enjoy time on the ice with the other orphans, trouble starts to brew as Princess Sugar and Prince Bon-Bon start to exhibit the same selfish, wily and disruptive behaviour as they did as Sugar and Fritz back at the orphanage, with Princess Sugar hellbent on diverting Nutcracker’s affection for Clara and transferring it to her. Using her brother as a means of getting what she wants, Princess Sugar supplies Prince Bon-Bon with a snowball, which he throws at Nutcracker knocking him to the floor. Seizing her opportunity, Princess Sugar rushes to Nutcracker’s side, whilst Clara – distraught – rushes away, alone.  

Soon Clara and Nutcracker find themselves in a complicated quartet with the Prince and Princess, with Clara partnered with Prince Bon-Bon and with Nutcracker firmly within Princess Sugar’s determined grasp. Clara eventually makes a break from Prince Bon-Bon only to find Nutcracker and Princess Sugar appear to be in perfect unison, with Nutcracker falling under her spell. Undeterred, Clara heads off in hot pursuit of Princess Sugar and Nutcracker, leaving Prince Bon-Bon alone and, seemingly no longer of use to his bossier and more controlling sister, he is subsequently chased away from the frozen lake by the orphans. As snow starts falling, we see that Clara is still alone and now desperately sad, cold and forlorn.