The Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) has announced the world premiere of an ambitious new production of The Nutcracker, choreographed by Artistic Director Ty King-Wall and set against the golden glow of a 1950s Kiwi summer. The work opens in Wellington on 30 October before touring nationwide through to 20 December.
With over 40 handcrafted costumes, nine months of design and construction, and spectacular new staging, the production promises to bring festive magic to audiences across Aotearoa. More than 10,000 tickets have already been sold, making it one of RNZB’s most anticipated productions of the year.
At the heart of King-Wall’s reimagining is a desire to create a Nutcracker that reflects New Zealand’s landscapes, traditions and summer nostalgia. “The impetus behind this production was an aspiration for Royal New Zealand Ballet to have a Nutcracker which was our very own,” he explains. “Being a story borne from the northern hemisphere it is far removed from our own experiences around Christmas… We have our own customs and history in this part of the world, so first and foremost I sought to draw inspiration from that.”
Audiences can expect familiar touchstones of Kiwi summers: barefoot cricket, pōhutukawa in bloom, melting ice creams, and bach-side gatherings. The story begins on Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum family bach, where Auntie Drosselmeyer — reimagined as a retired ballerina — gifts young Clara a handcrafted Nutcracker doll. From there, Clara’s journey sweeps into fantastical dreamscapes inspired by New Zealand’s natural beauty, from the icy majesty of Central Otago’s hoar frosts to a Land of the Sweets bursting with chocolate fish, pavlova, hokey pokey ice cream and lolly slice.
In this distinctly Kiwi version, the Nutcracker Prince battles an army of weasels, stoats and possums in a witty nod to the nation’s conservation story. Nature itself becomes central to the ballet’s identity. “Our landscapes define us,” King-Wall says. “They are a source of beauty, inspiration and shared memory, and their emotive power has influenced this production immensely.”
The production boasts a world-class creative team including designer Tracy Grant Lord, lighting designer Jon Buswell, and the visual effects artists at POW Studios, with live music performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Auckland Philharmonia.
Ryman Healthcare, a long-term supporter of RNZB, has lent its backing to this major production. CEO Naomi James describes it as “a uniquely Kiwi celebration of family, imagination and joy – values that resonate deeply with our Ryman community.”
Adding to the excitement, young dancers in each tour region will be auditioned for roles alongside the RNZB company, providing opportunities to take their first steps on the professional stage.
This is RNZB’s first Nutcracker in seven years, and King-Wall believes it captures the company’s distinct creative voice. “Our distance from the rest of the world is our strength,” he adds. “It gives us a creative distinctiveness that’s reflected in every moment of this ballet.”