Nutcracker in Havana at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Review
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Wed 13 Nov 2024 - Tue 14 Jan 2025
Carlos Acosta’s homage to his home city of Havana is a wonderful re-take on Tchaikovsky’s classic festive ballet
The Nutcracker. Here Acosta takes the story from a Victorian European home into the streets of the Cuban capital, infusing it with a new energy and vitalism - the spirit of his home culture.
What he does so brilliantly is retain the original story and some of the well-known choreography, so it remains completely recognizable but he infuses it with Cuban elements.
Core to this is the new orchestration by Pepe Gavilondo Peon featuring Cuban rhythms of son, mambo, salsa and guangaunco as well as modern instrumentation most notably from the guitar.
This immediately injects a different element to the score, creating a rhythm which encourages a blend of classical ballet and Cuban dance.
On top of this, the show very clearly moves to Havana. A creative team of Nina Dunn, Tyler Forward and Andrew Exeter have given us sets and lighting which are warm rather than the usual chilly feel to Nutcracker. Digital projection allows for Christmas trees to grow, snowflakes to fall and for us all to be taken on a journey through the streets and buildings of Havana.
Acosta brings some decidedly Cuban elements to the production such as the island’s chancletas – wooden clogs which also create not only a rhythm but a sound which is a new element to the show.
As a dancer, Acosta has performed in many Nutcrackers and his familiarity with the piece is seen throughout as he plays with the usual images and expectations. So the Drosselmeyer magician character is now an uncle returned from America, the soldiers are replaced with Cuban soldiers who fought against the Spanish for independence and the dolls are part of the Cuban tradition rather than the usual Harlequin and Columbine.
So too the characters and dances from the Land of Sweets are re-imagined with some beautifully sinuous movement in the Arabian Dance, martial arts fighting in the Chinese Dance and high leaps in the Russian Dance.
The cast, which alongside Acosta Danza members also features guest artists and junior dancers from the Acosta Advanced Training Hub in Woolwich, tackle Acosta’s choreography with apparent ease. He hasn’t given them an easy task as some of the movement is incredibly complex and calls for great strength and balance but there isn’t a weak moment in the show.
There is a real sense of humour, entertainment and life to this production which ensures you leave having enjoyed a thrilling new version of an old favourite.
Carlos Acosta’s
Nutcracker in Havana also plays Wolverhampton
Grand Theatre on 13-14 January and continues its UK tour with dates in Milton Keynes and Salford see
here for details.
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301216 - 2025-01-14 11:35:33