This November, Norwich will be feeling the Cuban heat as Norwich Theatre’s production Carlos Acosta’s Nutcracker in Havana arrives for its premiere at Norwich Theatre Royal before embarking on a UK tour, including a week-long run at London’s Southbank Centre in December 2024.
We sat down with Stephen Crocker, Chief Executive and Creative Director of Norwich Theatre, to chat about the show, the process, and his ability to be able to do his Christmas shopping in 11 cities across the country.
Nutcracker in Havana is a brand new production that sees the timeless story of The Nutcracker reimagined by the dance legend Carlos Acosta. The story is brought to life with ballet at its core, enriched with Acosta Danza’s unique style and with Cuban dance traditions beautifully woven throughout the much-loved and joyful family tale.
Well, if this is a recipe, you would say step one is to find your visionary dance legend, and that is Carlos. He has always had a strong vision, and this has been a passion project for Carlos for a really long time.
I have always bought into that vision since he first talked to me about it during lockdown, and we have gradually assembled the right people to support him in that.
The set is beautiful. I am really excited about the bits of the set I have seen so far. It takes you on a journey in a way that the story does.
So, you start The Nutcracker in a very humble Cuban countryside dwelling. Then, you see this amazing transformation to the dance halls of Havana and this grand staircase that comes onto the stage. Of course, this is the first Nutcracker to have a fully functioning car on the stage.
There is a lot to see. The stage is not only full of dancers but also beautiful pieces, all intermingled with incredible projections.
We are working with an amazing costume designer called Angelo Alberto. His costumes have all the luxury and beauty of the Nutcracker. As you would expect, there will be tutus and pointe shoes, but there will also be a really rich, lush colour that transports you to the Caribbean. And it is second nature for Angelo, as he is a Caribbean artist himself, hailing from the island of Curacao.
Firstly, for ballet and Nutcracker fans, I want to assure you that you are going to see the Nutcracker in this, but it is all going to have a little bit of a twist.
It is just magical. The second half of the Nutcracker is when Clara is going through the land of sweets, and you will see all that beauty there. Then, when she meets different people, that is when you get a slight twist to this. She encounters these Chinese dancers and these Arab dancers, all with their own vibrancy and colour. It is this bringing together of this culture in this space, and it is just really, really beautiful.
There is a wonderful moment in the show when the corps de ballet turns into a Conga line. There aren’t many versions of the Nutcracker where you tap your feet, and this is one of those.
Discover a new take on this traditional Christmas tale!
We have a new arrangement of the score by Pepe Gavilondo Peón. It includes all the tunes you will have heard over the years, such as those in adverts, etc., but in a slightly different way.
It now sounds Cuban, and we’re bringing in some world music and some voices to use different arrangements to give that sound that you get in Havana. We want people to see the Nutcracker story but be immersed in that sense of that amazing city that not many people have been lucky enough to visit.
This is a massive undertaking for us. It is a real statement of intent. We set out on a new strategy back in 2021/22 that included originating and co-originating more work here in our city. You know, it is easy to think this is Carlos Acosta’s show, but it has Norwich Theatre written all over it. The show will be made in Havana and Norwich, and that is really special to bring the very best artists here.
And to take that show out with Norwich written all through it like a stick of rock and in its DNA, and that is really special and absolutely a first for this organisation and for Norwich and for Norfolk for a piece of work like this to be made here.
But it is exciting for us as well as a little nerve racking. As well as having Nutcracker we are not stepping back from all of our ambitions around panto back at the ranch at Norwich Theatre. So we are dividing and conquering one show back at Theatre Royal on the road.
It is going to be amazing. I have nine cities around the country where I can possibly do my Christmas shopping.
Norwich Theatre’s production combines the Nutcracker’s well-known score with dramatic dance and a Cuban twist!
I think people are really excited about it. I think people will be really excited to see how Carlos tells this story. It is not often you get a new Nutcracker, so I think the dance world is quite intrigued. Let’s keep that intrigue, and I hope we wow them with it.
Carlos Acosta’s Nutcracker in Havana premieres at Norwich Theatre Royal between 1 – 3 November. To book seats for Norwich, visit norwichtheatre.org or call the Box Office at 01603 630 000.
