‘The Nutcracker and the King of Mice” by E.T.A. Hoffman (1816) was a dark, disturbing, fantasy tale, later adapted by Alexander Dumas into a less terrifying storyline. The classical ballet with a musical score by Tchaikovsky is frequently performed during the Festive season.
In Carlos Acosta’s brilliantly reimagined production, we travel from the Stahlbaum’s grand drawing room in Germany, circa 1820, to a palm-thatched family home in Cuba. An illustration of a Havana Postcard cleverly turns into a 3D Game engine video projecting an animated panorama across historic buildings, city streets and lush green rural landscape.
The family is gathering for a Christmas party, (banned in Cuba from 1959 to 1997) welcoming Tío (Uncle) Elías from Miami, who arrives in a sleek, chic Chevrolet Corvette. He entertains them all with amazing magic tricks, stylishly transforming décor and costumes, and presents a trio of lifesize Dolls who jive about in jagged clockwork fashion. His Christmas present to his niece, Clara, is a Nutcracker doll which she adores.
Tchaikovsky’s score has been sumptuously re-orchestrated by Cuban composer Pepe Gavilondo Peon and Yasel Munoz, retaining the melodic flow while infusing percussive syncopation and rhythmic swing. Phrases and chords shift between woodwind, brass, Cuban lute, piano and strident strings to the rock sound strumming of an electric guitar.
The choreography reflects this hybrid blend of music as the ensemble seamlessly weave the narrative between classical ballet and Cuban folk dances. At this family gathering, grandparents and children join in a joyous rumba and cha-cha-cha then don their wooden chancleta clogs for a lively tap routine to celebrate this Carnival Fiesta.
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse’. Well on this Christmas Eve, as midnight strikes, the rats and toy soldiers come out to play.
With the raucous firing of a cannon and gun shot, The Battle begins with a regiment of khaki-clad Mambíses ready to attack the invasion of Giant rats, with slick, hard hitting, hand to hand combat, rifles and swords aloft. In her dreams, Clara is drawn into this fantasy world as her Nutcracker Doll becomes a Prince at the start of an amazing adventure.
A scenic backdrop of palm trees in the sunshine fades into a dark woodland of fir trees in The Land of Snow. With gorgeous, glistening costumes, the rigid formality of Tchaikovsky’s Waltz is given a breath of fresh air with jazzed up tempo, as a chorus of Snowflakes float and flutter in a whiteout whirlwind of frosty icicles. Pure magic.
In Act Two, Clara is taken by Tio Elías to the Kingdom of Sweets, akin to a Circus Big Top with Drosselmeyer as the Ringmaster, introducing the usual parade of Divertissements. The Chinese duo show off martial arts with athletic energy, the Spaniards tango seductively, while the Dance of the Reed Flutes is like a pantomime sketch as the trio twirl about in hilarious slapstick fashion.
Clara sits on her throne watching the performance, but then at times becomes bored and petulant, attempting to join, interrupting a few of the dances. Finally, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker Prince express finesse and flair in their elegant Pas de Deux, with neat arabesque lines, effortless lifts with pose and precision. After (lengthy) repetitions and (tedious) encores, Clara leads the dancers to skip merrily around a Maypole with its colourful streamers, an old tradition from workers in sugar plantations.
For the first hour, we are immersed in the vibrant, vivacious joy of Cuban folk dance, which is unfortunately completely lost in the elongated Act II, preserving instead the conventional choreographic style of the Divertissements.
Overall, amid a tropical rain forest and sprinkle of icy snowflakes, Carlos Acosta’s Nutcracker in Havana stands out for its vivacity and vision; not just because it reinvents the ballet from his personal perspective, but it reminds us why this enchanting Christmas entertainment endures.
This is a shared celebration of music, magic and family Fiesta fun, glowing with Caribbean warmth and bursting with Buena Vista Social Club bluesy beat.
Showtimes:
3 – 4 February, 2026
Times: 7:30pm each evening and 2:30pm matinee, 4 February
Tickets: from £49.50 - Friends discount, concessions.
Suitability, 8+
https://www.capitaltheatres.com/shows/nutcracker-in-havana/