Created in 1990, Sir Peter Wright’s production of The Nutcracker is considered by many to be the finest ever interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s magnificent and mesmerising score.
In true Christmas spirit, the story follows a young girl named Clara as she’s swept up in a fantasy of soldiers, giant rats, snow fairies, magic and mystery, before finally being transformed into a beautiful ballerina.
What’s On recently caught up with three of the dancers playing the ballet’s main characters to find out more...

Karla Doorbar from Stoke alternates between playing Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy...
 
As a young dancer growing up in Stoke, did you ever dream that you would one day perform a principal role for BRB?
The very first ballet I saw was Sir Peter Wright's production of The Nutcracker at the Hippodrome. A friend of mine was dancing as one of the young children in the party scene, and I remember so badly wanting to be on that stage too. I didn't even know it was possible. It was magical back then, and now here I am trying to recreate the same magic myself... Whilst at the Royal Ballet School, I was involved in its production of The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House. Every performance was just as magical as the previous one, and Clara quickly became one of my dream roles. I found everything happening in the ballet just as magical as she does, and that’s the same feeling I get every time I   return to the role. 

Which is your favourite scene?
Act One, the pas de deux between Clara and her prince. There’s a lot of drama on stage before this moment, with the tree growing and King Rat appearing from the fireplace. The battle scene between the rats and soldiers creates a lot of tension. Then suddenly the stage is empty and Clara is left alone with the Prince. Everything is quiet, and at this point in the ballet I always feel overcome with emotion. The music for pas de deux is gorgeous. 

During the run, you play both Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy - obviously on different nights. What are the main differences between these two roles?
Whereas for Clara I would very much put the story first, for Sugar Plum your technique has to be flawless. Sugar Plum doesn't actually appear until nearly the end of Act Two, and so that in itself adds to the pressure. At this point in the ballet, it’s Clara's first chance to rest. Clara is on stage for the entirety of the ballet and only disappears when she 'turns into' the Sugar Plum Fairy. Each of the roles comes with its own challenges. Clara has to maintain the energy and sense of wonder for the whole show, and Sugar Plum must appear out of nowhere near the end and deliver a highly demanding pas de deux. The tutu for Sugar Plum is possibly the prettiest  costume I’ve ever worn. It's stunning. 

Do you watch or speak to other dancers performing Clara or the Sugar Plum Fairy to get inspiration for your interpretation?
When I first danced these roles, I did of course take inspiration from the other dancers in the company. They’re all amazing! I also noticed how different everybody is. Apart from getting the steps right, I think it's important to find your own way of telling the story. 

What’s your favourite Christmas tradition?
Winter time and Christmas is my favourite time of year! The Christmas lights and trees make everywhere look beautiful. And like most people, I like to spend Christmas with my family. 

Principal Momoko Hirata plays the Sugar Plum Fairy on the nights that Karla Doorbar is playing Clara

What’s your biggest challenge when dancing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy?
I would say The Nutcracker is not like any other full-length ballet. In The Nutcracker, you go straight into the pas de deux, which is normally the technical peak, without having had the rest of the ballet to build up to it. It’s very physically demanding, even though it’s short.

You’ve been performing this role for several years. How has your approach changed over time? 
It’s always different, especially with different partners, but the one thing that hasn’t changed is that it never gets easier. There’s always something technical to work on, but I try to add to the character each year. It’s impossible to reach perfection - it’s still a work in progress, even though I’ve danced it so many times.

What’s your pre-show routine like, from doing your make-up to warming up and putting on the costume?
I don’t really have a routine, but I do like to feel the stage before the show, so I warm up on stage even if I’m not on until Act Two, like in The Nutcracker. As soon as I put my costume on, I feel like I become the character, and that’s where the concentration starts to become more focused.

The Nutcracker is the first ballet many people see, especially children. What’s the audience reaction like during the show? Is it important to you to inspire future generations of dancers and ballet lovers?
The audience feels more involved for The Nutcracker, just because of the time of year. People like to celebrate Christmas together, and I can feel that from the audience, as well as from my fellow dancers on stage. A video of this version of The Nutcracker was the first ballet I ever saw, and that really inspired me to become a ballet dancer, so I would be happy if some of the audience who come to watch the show here feel the same way I did.

What’s your favourite Christmas tradition?
I’m from Japan, where we don’t really have a Christmas tradition, but I like it when they start to play Christmas music on the television and in shops. Sometimes you hear some music from The Nutcracker and that makes me happy. 

Principal César Morales is the Nutcracker Prince

What was your first experience of dancing The Nutcracker Prince like, and how does that compare to your experiences now, after dancing the role many times?
The first time I danced the Nutcracker Prince I was very excited to perform this famous role from the ballet repertoire. Even now, after I’ve done different versions of the ballet, it’s always nice to get back to it.

What’s your favourite part of The Nutcracker? 
In this version, my favourite part is the first entrance of the Nutcracker Prince after the battle. You are alone with just Clara on stage, with this beautiful music, and all the magic starts to happen.
The Nutcracker Prince dances with Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy. What’s it like dancing with these two characters? What are the main differences between each pas de deux?
It’s very different. Clara is a human, discovering many exciting things. The Sugar Plum Fairy is more mature; she’s a fairy, so she’s beautiful, effortless and magic. That’s the difficult part of the role because technically it’s very demanding.

Why do you think audiences love The Nutcracker so much?
I think audiences must love the beautiful dancing, beautiful music and costumes. And also, when The Nutcracker is on, it means that Christmas is coming.

What’s your favourite thing about Christmas?
Well, I love to be with my family, but because that’s not possible this year, I would say that my favourite thing is to be with my closest friends, my dogs, having lovely food and being by the fire.­­­

The Nutcracker continues to show at Birmingham Hippodrome until Thursday 13 December