The Nutcracker Prince

The Young Performers have delivered another great pantomime with The Nutcracker Prince, an original production by Patricia Freer and Barbara Moran, inspired by Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker ballet.

The story opens at Christmas, with Grandfather Drosselmyer hosting a huge festive party. Finlay Tomlinson shines in this role, delivering fantastic characterisation that made him appear far older than his years. His comic timing was excellent, supported by clear diction, strong stage presence, and some very funny “hard of hearing” moments. His physical comedy, particularly his use of the walking stick, was excellent.

His grandchildren, Clara (Mily Hopkins) and Franz (Evie Yates), brought great energy to the stage. Mily’s mischievous tantrums and fiery spirit became a key part of the story’s resolution, while Evie portrayed Franz as a curious, trouble-loving sibling who helped drive the adventure forward. They worked well together, showing strong sibling chemistry.

The children are desperate to open their presents and are soon rewarded with two handmade toys: a wooden mouse and a nutcracker shaped like a Prince. What they don’t realise is that the wood they are carved from is enchanted, bringing the toys to life when kissed.

Lexie-Mae Hart played Nanny, the traditional dame of the pantomime, and fully embraced the cheeky, comic nature of the role. Her confident delivery, expressive performance, and flamboyant costumes made her a constant source of entertainment.

Paige Bone gave a strong performance as Prince Valen, the Nutcracker Prince. She carried herself regally and was a convincing and likeable hero. Clarissa Armitage was delightful as Laura, with a lovely vocal performance, and the pair worked well together as a romantic partnership.

Chaos soon unfolds as the mouse transforms into the villainous King Rat, who kidnaps the children. Daniel Swan clearly loved playing this role, transforming from a wooden clockwork toy into a menacing villain! He received plenty of boos and hisses from the audience. His rodent sidekicks: Millie Weston (Dribble), Alex Povey (Drivel), Violet Graney (Twitch), and Imogen Scott (Snitch) were all entertaining, with Millie particularly standing out for her warm interaction with the children.

Jamie Higgins played the role of Mergus, Prince Valen’s Uncle well and Alexa Lewis gave a standout performance as the witch Malpoda. With a striking costume and commanding stage presence, she truly embraced the part and her number “Abracadabra” was fabulous!

The pantomime reindeers were clear audience favourites. Randolph (played by Emily Wilkins and Livvy Read) and Ria (played by Remy Read and Heidi Parsons) showed excellent teamwork and physical comedy, earning big reactions from the crowd.

A pantomime always needs fairies, and this production had many: Neve Johnson (Auralia), Lottie Ellis (Eleane), Evie Perks (Fallandra), Keeley Rickerby (Sweetpea), Izzy Pickering (Primrose), Daisy O’Connor (Poppy), Molly Price (Snowdrop) and Sophie Longcroft (Mother Nature). Each brought their own character to life, supported by lovely individual costumes that guided us through different magical kingdoms.

The ensemble did a great job as dancers, guests, and rats all contributing well. Everyone had their moment to shine, showing how well the production showcased the whole cast.

The show was directed by Vicky Byrne and assisted by Ella Charlesworth and Lewis McDowall, who did a fantastic job bringing together the storytelling, comedy and audience interaction. Musical Director Harvey Tavener filled the show with upbeat, energetic numbers and choreography by Lottie Ludlow was lively and well performed by a cast who were clearly having the best time on stage.

The wonderful team of Sarah Charlesworth, Andy Cook, and Friends of The Young Performers provided costumes that were colourful and imaginative, with the Nutcracker Prince costume a particular favourite, beautifully resembling the original wooden toy.

A minimal set had been chosen for this production which worked effectively. Scene changes flowed smoothly thanks to the work of Roydon Charlesworth, Eva O’Riordan, and Lewis Cuthbert. Sound by Olivia Michaud was clear throughout, and lighting by Dave Martin and Maddie Taft supported the mood and magic of the story well.

Overall, The Nutcracker Prince was an entertaining pantomime full of humour, colour, and great performances. Huge congratulations to everyone involved. We look forward to seeing The Young Performers’ next production, a Disney musical revue titled ‘Dare to Dream’.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.