Review: Nutcracker in Havana at Norwich Theatre Royal

Nutcracker in Havana also falls into this category. Launching a major UK tour in Norwich this weekend, this reimagined festive classic is a feast for the senses.

Choreographed and directed by the legendary Cuban-British dancer and director Carlos Acosta, 

The traditional story follows Clara, a girl who is gifted a nutcracker by her Uncle Drosselmeyer on Christmas Eve.

This reimagined festive classic is a feast for the senses (Image: Johan Persson) As night falls her nutcracker comes to life - conveniently, in time to battle a hoard of rats. Clara and her nutcracker vanquish the rodents and are invited on an adventure to the land of sweets, where they are hosted by the famed Sugarplum fairy.

Christmas morning then dawns, leaving the audience to wonder if Clara enjoyed an incredible adventure or was simply dreaming.

Amisaday Naara (Image: Johan Persson) The production of this show is spectacular from the moment the curtain comes up.

The Cuban scene is set with video visuals - an engaging but necessary trick to situate the audience in the balmy Caribbean setting, so far removed from the frosty surroundings the production is usually set in.

The bar was set high for this show from the outset and it continued to deliver. The costumes are fantastic, the staging immaculate, and all delivered with true originality.

Patricia Torres, Enrique Corrales, Alexander Varona as Drosselmeyer and Ofelia Semanat and Cynthia Laffertte (Image: Johan Persson) Tchaikovsky’s beloved score has also been reworked with a Cuban influence and it works well. So well, in fact, that audience members began chuckling when they heard the reimagined classics.

A standout performance came from the technically outstanding Laura Rodriguez, whose pas des deux with Nutcracker Prince Alejandro Silva was truly breathtaking.

Melisa Moreda, Thalía Cardin, Brandy Martínez, Leandro Fernandez, Aymara Vasallo, Aniel Pazos, Daniela Francia and Paul Brando (Image: Johan Persson) Amisaday Naara and Chay Deivis also danced one of the best Arab duos I’ve ever seen, and this is a show I’ve seen some 20 times.

There was not, however, a live orchestra accompanying such performances. With so much potential in this score it was a shame not to see it fully brought to life.

This is, of course no fault of the company, theatre or production, and more a reflection on funding.

Yet this show is still winter sun in a bottle - the perfect way to plié into the festive season.