Crescendo Concerts bring the magic of Christmas to Widcombe Social Club with their contemporary retelling of the Nutcracker.
The story of two young girls and their magical journey is told by an extremely versatile ensemble of six actor/musicians who switch from playing a multitude of musical instruments to storytelling, bubble-blowing, roller skating, stilt walking and everything in between.
All of the action is set to Rob Buckland’s stunning contemporary arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece.
All of your favourite music is there; The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, The Nutcracker March, The Russian Dance and all performed live, but in a way that makes it feel completely fresh and relevant to this modern adaptation.
Pretty fairy lights and colourful flashing lights fill the intimate playing space adding to the magic and wonder.
The piece is performed in traverse with audience down both sides and performance areas at either end, all used ingeniously by director Petra Schofield, which allows the real essence of going on a journey with the characters to be captured by this production as the action flits from end to end.
Certainly, the young audience and their parents were entranced by this performance and mesmerised by the magical bubble and hoop sequences which were all expertly performed.
The bubble routine is probably the closest thing you can get to witnessing real magic on the stage. A rare occasion in theatre where both old and young sit gazing, open-mouthed in awe and wonder.
This enchanting show is the perfect introduction to Tchaikovsky for both young and old alike and the ideal way to fight off the winter blues and get in a truly festive mood.
Grab a ticket if you can for this real cracker of a show!
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Reviewer: Mark Matthews
For more information and upcoming tour dates, visit: www.crescendoconcerts.co.uk.