The Nutcracker
Sydney
Synopsis
ACT I
It is Christmas Eve and Dr Stahlbaum and his wife, a former ballerina, are giving a party. They have two children: Clara, who is 15 and training to be a dancer, and her younger brother, Fritz.
Mrs Stahlbaum has invited some of Clara’s friends from the ballet school, who dance for the guests, after which they ask her to dance. She has also invited a magician, Drosselmeyer, to provide entertainment. He brings gifts for the young children and gives a Nutcracker doll to Clara; she is fascinated by it, and her belief that it has magical powers is confirmed when her brother breaks it and the doll strangely mends itself.
The party comes to an end, the guests depart and the family retires to bed. Unable to sleep, Clara creeps downstairs looking for the Nutcracker. As the clock strikes midnight, strange things begin to happen. The whole room seems to grow and grow and a horde of giant rats, led by their King, attack Clara. The Nutcracker springs to life and, summoning the toy soldiers, defends her.
A battle ensues. Realising that the Nutcracker is about to be overpowered, Clara hits the Rat King with her shoe and he collapses. The Nutcracker falls exhausted to the ground, seemingly lifeless. Sadly, Clara takes him in her arms and tries to revive him. He gradually comes back to life and, to her amazement, has turned into a handsome Prince. He dances with her, then leads her to the Land of Snow, where the winds transport her into the night sky.
ACT II
Clara flies through the clouds and arrives in a strange place, where a fantastic world is conjured up by Drosselmeyer. He shows her the sun, the moon, flowers and dancers from many different lands. The Rat King bursts in, but the Nutcracker Prince and Drosselmeyer banish him forever. To honour Clara, and to reward her bravery, Drosselmeyer performs a grand spectacle to entertain and delight the crowd. Clara joins in many of the dances and is finally transformed into the Sugar Plum Fairy, the ballerina of her dreams. The Nutcracker Prince reappears and dances with her.
As the dancing reaches its climax the dream world vanishes and Clara awakens at the foot of the Christmas tree.
Cast sheets
Select a performance
Friday 29 November 7.00pm
Saturday 30 November 7.30pm
Monday 2 December 6.30pm
Tuesday 3 December 7.30pm
Wednesday 4 December 1.30pm
Wednesday 4 December 7.30pm
Thursday 5 December 7.30pm
Friday 6 December 7.30pm
Saturday 7 December 1.30pm
Saturday 7 December 7.30pm
Monday 9 December 7.30pm
Tuesday 10 December 7.30pm
Wednesday 11 December 1.30pm
Wednesday 11 December 7.30pm
Thursday 12 December 7.30pm
Friday 13 December 7.30pm
Saturday 14 December 1.30pm
Saturday 14 December 7.30pm
Monday 16 December 7.30pm
Tuesday 17 December 1.30pm
Wednesday 18 December 1.30pm
Drosselmeyer
Joseph Romancewicz
Clara
Grace Carroll
Prince
Callum Linnane
Sugar Plum Fairy
Hannah O'Neill
Snow Fairy
Belle Urwin
Rose Fairy
Larissa Kiyoto-Ward
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Matthieu Arama
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Callum Linnane
Clara
Mia Heathcote
Prince
Joseph Caley
Sugar Plum Fairy
Sharni Spencer
Snow Fairy
Rina Nemoto
Rose Fairy
Ako Kondo
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Matthieu Arama
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Joseph Romancewicz
Clara
Grace Carroll
Prince
Callum Linnane
Sugar Plum Fairy
Hannah O'Neill
Snow Fairy
Imogen Chapman
Rose Fairy
Jill Ogai
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Huy-Nguyen Bui
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Jarryd Madden
Clara
Yuumi Yamada
Prince
Chengwu Guo
Sugar Plum Fairy
Ako Kondo
Snow Fairy
Isobelle Dashwood
Rose Fairy
Sharni Spencer
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Matthieu Arama
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Timothy Coleman
Clara
Samara Merrick
Prince
Cameron Holmes
Sugar Plum Fairy
Benedicte Bemet
Snow Fairy
Belle Urwin
Rose Fairy
Larissa Kiyoto-Ward
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Huy-Nguyen Bui
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Jarryd Madden
Clara
Aya Watanabe
Prince
Marcus Morelli
Sugar Plum Fairy
Jill Ogai
Snow Fairy
Katherine Sonnekus
Rose Fairy
Sharni Spencer
-
Conductor
Joel Bass
-
Concertmaster
Matthieu Arama
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Joseph Romancewicz
Clara
Grace Carroll
Prince
Callum Linnane
Sugar Plum Fairy
Hannah O'Neill
Snow Fairy
Imogen Chapman
Rose Fairy
Jill Ogai
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Huy-Nguyen Bui
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Jarryd Madden
Clara
Yuumi Yamada
Prince
Chengwu Guo
Sugar Plum Fairy
Ako Kondo
Snow Fairy
Isobelle Dashwood
Rose Fairy
Benedicte Bemet
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Matthieu Arama
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Timothy Coleman
Clara
Aya Watanabe
Prince
Marcus Morelli
Sugar Plum Fairy
Jill Ogai
Snow Fairy
Imogen Chapman
Rose Fairy
Larissa Kiyoto-Ward
-
Conductor
Joel Bass
-
Concertmaster
Katherine Lukey
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Joseph Romancewicz
Clara
Grace Carroll
Prince
Callum Linnane
Sugar Plum Fairy
Hannah O'Neill
Snow Fairy
Katherine Sonnekus
Rose Fairy
Jill Ogai
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Matthieu Arama
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Callum Linnane
Clara
Mia Heathcote
Prince
Joseph Caley
Sugar Plum Fairy
Sharni Spencer
Snow Fairy
Rina Nemoto
Rose Fairy
Ako Kondo
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Matthieu Arama
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Timothy Coleman
Clara
Samara Merrick
Prince
Cameron Holmes
Sugar Plum Fairy
Benedicte Bemet
Snow Fairy
Belle Urwin
Rose Fairy
Ako Kondo
Harlequin
Luke Marchant
Columbine
Evie Ferris
Jack-in-the-box
Lucien Xu
Nutcracker doll
Daniel Bryne
King Rat
Harrison Bradley
Mirliton
Hannah Sergi
Mirliton
Lilly Maskery
Mirliton
Montana Rubin
Mirliton
Evie Ferris
Arabian Dancer
Katherine Sonnekus
Arabian Dancer
Maxim Zenin
Chinese Dancer
Adam Elmes
Chinese Dancer
Yichuan Wang
Trepak Dancer
Daniel Bryne
Trepak Dancer
Benjamin Garrett
Trepak Dancer
Thomas Gannon
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Huy-Nguyen Bui
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Brodie James
Clara
Jade Wood
Prince
Davi Ramos
Sugar Plum Fairy
Robyn Hendricks
Snow Fairy
Amy Ronnfeldt
Rose Fairy
Jill Ogai
Harlequin
Hugo Dumapit
Columbine
Aya Watanabe
Jack-in-the-box
Harrison Bradley
Nutcracker doll
Yichuan Wang
King Rat
Benjamin Garrett
Mirliton
Lilla Harvey
Mirliton
Yaru Xu
Mirliton
Aya Watanabe
Mirliton
Alice McArthur
Arabian Dancer
Annabelle Watt
Arabian Dancer
Mason Lovegrove
Chinese Dancer
Bryce Latham
Chinese Dancer
Lucien Xu
Trepak Dancer
Henry Berlin
Trepak Dancer
Yichuan Wang
Trepak Dancer
Harrison Bradley
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Huy-Nguyen Bui
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Jarryd Madden
Clara
Yuumi Yamada
Prince
Chengwu Guo
Sugar Plum Fairy
Ako Kondo
Snow Fairy
Imogen Chapman
Rose Fairy
Benedicte Bemet
Harlequin
Drew Hedditch
Columbine
Lilla Harvey
Jack-in-the-box
Elijah Trevitt
Nutcracker doll
Daniel Bryne
King Rat
Harrison Bradley
Mirliton
Evie Ferris
Mirliton
Grace Carroll
Mirliton
Karina Arimura
Mirliton
Samara Merrick
Arabian Dancer
Isobelle Dashwood
Arabian Dancer
Davi Ramos
Chinese Dancer
Henry Berlin
Chinese Dancer
Daniel Bryne
Trepak Dancer
Hugo Dumapit
Trepak Dancer
Yichuan Wang
Trepak Dancer
Bryce Latham
-
Conductor
Joel Bass
-
Concertmaster
Matthieu Arama
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Callum Linnane
Clara
Mia Heathcote
Prince
Joseph Caley
Sugar Plum Fairy
Sharni Spencer
Snow Fairy
Rina Nemoto
Rose Fairy
Ako Kondo
Harlequin
Luke Marchant
Columbine
Yuumi Yamada
Jack-in-the-box
Lucien Xu
Nutcracker doll
Cameron Holmes
King Rat
Timothy Coleman
Mirliton
Evie Ferris
Mirliton
Grace Carroll
Mirliton
Aya Watanabe
Mirliton
Yuumi Yamada
Arabian Dancer
Imogen Chapman
Arabian Dancer
Brodie James
Chinese Dancer
Cameron Holmes
Chinese Dancer
Elijah Trevitt
Trepak Dancer
Hugo Dumapit
Trepak Dancer
Drew Hedditch
Trepak Dancer
Harrison Bradley
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Matthieu Arama
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Mason Lovegrove
Clara
Montana Rubin
Prince
Joseph Romancewicz
Sugar Plum Fairy
Rina Nemoto
Snow Fairy
Belle Urwin
Rose Fairy
Jill Ogai
Harlequin
Adam Elmes
Columbine
Evie Ferris
Jack-in-the-box
Harrison Bradley
Nutcracker doll
Cameron Holmes
King Rat
Benjamin Garrett
Mirliton
Evie Ferris
Mirliton
Lilly Maskery
Mirliton
Karina Arimura
Mirliton
Samara Merrick
Arabian Dancer
Katherine Sonnekus
Arabian Dancer
Maxim Zenin
Chinese Dancer
Adam Elmes
Chinese Dancer
Yichuan Wang
Trepak Dancer
Daniel Bryne
Trepak Dancer
Drew Hedditch
Trepak Dancer
Bryce Latham
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Katherine Lukey
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Jarryd Madden
Clara
Yuumi Yamada
Prince
Brett Chynoweth
Sugar Plum Fairy
Mia Heathcote
Snow Fairy
Amy Ronnfeldt
Rose Fairy
Larissa Kiyoto-Ward
Harlequin
Hugo Dumapit
Columbine
Karina Arimura
Jack-in-the-box
Elijah Trevitt
Nutcracker doll
Yichuan Wang
King Rat
Timothy Coleman
Mirliton
Hannah Sergi
Mirliton
Yaru Xu
Mirliton
Montana Rubin
Mirliton
Alice McArthur
Arabian Dancer
Katherine Sonnekus
Arabian Dancer
Maxim Zenin
Chinese Dancer
Bryce Latham
Chinese Dancer
Lucien Xu
Trepak Dancer
Henry Berlin
Trepak Dancer
Yichuan Wang
Trepak Dancer
Harrison Bradley
-
Conductor
Joel Bass
-
Concertmaster
Huy-Nguyen Bui
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Brodie James
Clara
Jade Wood
Prince
Davi Ramos
Sugar Plum Fairy
Robyn Hendricks
Snow Fairy
Isobelle Dashwood
Rose Fairy
Benedicte Bemet
Harlequin
Luke Marchant
Columbine
Aya Watanabe
Jack-in-the-box
Bryce Latham
Nutcracker doll
Drew Hedditch
King Rat
Timothy Coleman
Mirliton
Lilla Harvey
Mirliton
Grace Carroll
Mirliton
Aya Watanabe
Mirliton
Samara Merrick
Arabian Dancer
Annabelle Watt
Arabian Dancer
Mason Lovegrove
Chinese Dancer
Adam Elmes
Chinese Dancer
Yichuan Wang
Trepak Dancer
Daniel Bryne
Trepak Dancer
Drew Hedditch
Trepak Dancer
Thomas Gannon
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Matthieu Arama
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Mason Lovegrove
Clara
Montana Rubin
Prince
Joseph Romancewicz
Sugar Plum Fairy
Rina Nemoto
Snow Fairy
Katherine Sonnekus
Rose Fairy
Ako Kondo
-
Conductor
Charles Barker
-
Concertmaster
Matthieu Arama
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Jake Mangakahia
Clara
Aya Watanabe
Prince
Marcus Morelli
Sugar Plum Fairy
Jill Ogai
Snow Fairy
Belle Urwin
Rose Fairy
Benedicte Bemet
-
Conductor
Joel Bass
-
Concertmaster
Huy-Nguyen Bui
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir
Drosselmeyer
Jarryd Madden
Clara
Yuumi Yamada
Prince
Brett Chynoweth
Sugar Plum Fairy
Mia Heathcote
Snow Fairy
Katherine Sonnekus
Rose Fairy
Larissa Kiyoto-Ward
-
Conductor
Joel Bass
-
Concertmaster
Matthieu Arama
-
With Opera Australia Orchestra and Australian Girls Choir