Nutcracker

Nutcracker

1. choreography

   • Matthew Bourne
     • reworking of traditional ballet
       • narrative and comic influenced by film and theatre
         • close relationship between dance and music

2. First performed

   • 1992

3. Accompaniment

   • Tchaikosvsky
   • classical
     • orchestral

4. costume

   • Anthony Ward
   • colourful
     • over the top to show characters
     • cultural influences
     • literal references to sweets

5. Lighting

   • Howard Harrison
   • theatrical
     • creates atmosphere

6. Set

   • Anthony Ward
     • larger than life
       • cartoon - like
         • scene 1 - austere, drab orphanage with iron beds
           • scene 2 - large mouth, sweetieland , massive 3 tier cake

7. Staging

   • Proscenium

8. 24 Dancers

9. themes of adolescence,satire and fantasy