Join Ballet Nelson in the timeless and enchanting production of The Nutcracker, a ballet that has captivated audiences for generations. This holiday season, step into a magical world where young Clara embarks on a dreamlike adventure filled with fantastical characters, dazzling dance sequences, and unforgettable music.
The story begins on Christmas Eve, when Clara’s father gifts the Nutcracker to the family. After her brother Fritz breaks it, Clara is entrusted with looking after the magical doll. That night, as the clock strikes midnight, Clara finds herself in the midst of a magical transformation: the Christmas tree grows to towering heights, and her beloved Nutcracker springs to life to lead an army of toy soldiers into battle against the fearsome Mouse King and his minions.
After Clara defeats the Mouse King with her slipper, she is whisked away on an unforgettable journey to the Land of Snow. There, she is greeted by twirling snowflakes in a breathtaking winter wonderland. The adventure continues as she travels to the Land of Toys & Sweets, ruled by the radiant Sugar Plum Fairy. Clara is treated to a celebration of toy dancers, each representing different countries, from Spanish and Arabian to Chinese and Russian, all performing with mesmerising skill and grace.
At the heart of The Nutcracker lies the powerful score composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky’s sweeping melodies and lush orchestration elevate the story, bringing each character and moment to life in a way that words alone cannot. The grandeur of the music, combined with the stunning choreography originally crafted by Marius Petipa and now beautifully restaged by Adriana Harper, creates a magical atmosphere that leaves a lasting impression on all who experience it.
Ballet Nelson’s production of The Nutcracker promises to be an extraordinary performance, filled with exquisite costumes, intricate sets, and breathtaking choreography. Taking the stage are Ballet Nelson’s talented students, including adults. Alongside professional guest dancers Oliver Carruthers, James Burchell, Callum Phipps who portray key roles such as the Godfather Drosselmeyer, Nutcracker Doll, and Nutcracker Prince. We are also excited to welcome back ex Ballet Nelson student Brooke Darling as our Sugar Plum Fairy and Mouse King. Together, they dazzle the audience with their technical brilliance and artistry, creating unforgettable moments that come to life on stage.
Ballet Nelson is thrilled to bring this classic production to life, with performances designed to enchant, inspire, and create lasting memories. The production’s attention to detail, from the delicate costumes to the masterful choreography, ensures a visually stunning and emotionally uplifting experience for all who attend.
Don’t miss your chance to join Clara on her magical journey this holiday season. Whether it’s your first time seeing the ballet or you’re returning to this enchanting production, Ballet Nelson’s The Nutcracker is sure to be a performance you’ll remember for years to come. Secure your tickets today and be part of a magical world of wonder and enchantment!
For the first time, Legacy Groovers, Legacy Dance and Legacy Performance Company will take to the Nelson Theatre Royal stage and bring to life EXPRESS. The students at Legacy will have you feeling Merry and Jolly with this Festive Season-inspired dance show.
With over 150 dancers from ages 4 - 19, EXPRESS will rekindle the sparklejollytwinklejingley memories and feelings we have every festive season. This 3-act show will follow Gabgab (Nana Gabrielle) as she reflects on her most memorable Christmases and some of her worrying feelings. With all our favourite Christmas carols paired with costumes and personalities, our Nelson and Tasman Dancers will shine brighter than the Rockafella Centre Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve.
EXPRESS by Legacy Dance is a show for all ages.
Like Santa, check your list twice and ensure you have the correct ACT, DAY, and TIME. All ticket purchases are final. The box office cannot Exchange, Refund, or Reallocate tickets purchased incorrectly.
ACT 1 - Night Before Christmas performed by Legacy Groovers Pre-School Dance Programme
Performance Times: Sat 7 Dec, 12pm & 6pm (NO Act 1 on Friday 6 Dec)
We meet Gabgab (Nana Gabrielle) on Christmas Eve. She is getting ready to perform one of her favourite Christmas Traditions: reading Twas the night before Christmas to all the young kids in her Neighbourhood.
The Neighbourhood kids (Legacy Groovers Pre-School dancers) have decided to surprise Gabgab with a little bit of Christmas Spirit and Magic; they bring to life the character from Gabgab's favourite Christmas Story, "Twas the Night Before Christmas."
30 Minute Interval. The auditorium will be closed to ticket holders at this time.
ACT 2 - Adventus performed by Legacy Dance Community Dance Programme, Monday and Wednesday Classes
Performance Times: Fri 6 Dec, 7pm; Sat 7 Dec, 1pm & 7pm
After all the excitement and surprise Gabgab had watching her story come to life, she began to think back; Christmas was filled every year with family, love, joy, and Christmas cheer. Much like Santa travelling through the Christmas Eve sky, stopping at every chimney to deliver presents, we meet a young Gabbie who will open the doors to her own Advent Calendar of Favourite Christmases. Behind every advent door, memories burst out, and Gabbie reminisces and celebrates the joy of Christmas.
30 Minute Interval. The auditorium will be closed to ticket holders at this time.
ACT 3 - Cadere performed by Legacy Performance Company Extension Dance Programme
Performance times: Fri 6 & Sat 7 Dec, 8.30pm (NO Act 3 on Saturday afternoon)
Gabbie enjoys the beauty and wonder of her Christmas Past. She goes to sleep, wishing for it to be quick so she can have a merry Little Christmas.
Everyone knows Santa has a Naughty and Nice List, and Gabbie starts to dream what it would be like if she was on the Naughty List. Gabbie's Christmas spirit dampens as she understands how different the reason for the season can be when you are put on the Naughty List. Gabbie struggles through seven characteristics that stem from overindulgence, characteristics that don't feel like Christmas cheer.
Gabgab wakes up early on Christmas. She can hear the neighbourhood kids starting to wake up. She has to choose whether to share what she learned in her dream.
Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is one wreathed in smiles…
Everybody is invited to step behind the scenes at our Open Day.
The Theatre Royal Open Day is a wonderful opportunity to explore this beautiful historic building. You can learn a little about how a theatre works, understand what is involved to make a production come to life, and check out some of the technical operating systems, including the fly tower. Those who want to take their turn in the limelight can experience the view that actors have from the stage.
There is no need to book for the Open Day, just come along to the Theatre Royal Nelson on Sunday 22 September, between 11am and 2pm, and join in the FREE fun for the whole family.
Originally created by Nanotechnologist and Materials Engineer, Dr Michelle Dickinson, MNZM—Nanogirl™ is a superhero with a difference!
Her superpowers don’t come from alien parents or magic—instead, Nanogirl builds them using the superpowers of STEM!
Nanogirl and her friends use their skills to engineer their way into - and out of - trouble in order to inspire and empower young people around the world to tackle some of the world’s biggest questions.
Vast Dance Festival is a dance festival for high schools across Te Tau Ihu, giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their choreographic and technical skills.
The Festival fosters the dance community amongst high school students and celebrates a wide range of dance styles.
Start your holidays off with a song in your heart! A sing-along with Kath Bee always puts a smile on your face. All the songs you love, including Sprinkle A Little Sunshine, Dragons Under My Bed, Individuality, Dad I wanna be a Camel, Blowing Bubbles, Magic in Me and more!
Everyone loves Kath Bee's performances, her down-to-earth manner, ability to connect with the audience, both children and adults - she always makes everyone feel special.
Winner of multiple awards including the 2020 and 2022 APRA NZ Children's Song of the Year, Kath's songs are catchy, uplifting and will stay with you and your child long after the concert is over. Bring your favourite soft toy to dance with, dress up in your favourite outfit and come ready for some actions, dancing, laughter and fun! Don't forget to bring your singing voice!
Kath always has giveaways, bubbles and very often some surprises during her shows. Plus she'll have books and ribbon wands to purchase and take away as a memento. She will be there after the show for photos and to sign your purchases. She can't wait to sing with you!
Gillian Francis’ Nelson Academy of Dance presents an evening of delightful, enchanting dance.
Young Marie, with her brother and mother, visit a Doll Shop to see the dolls dancing. The children have a wonderful time watching all the different dolls; Drummer, French, Poodle, Fairy, Can Can dancers, and many more. However, they cannot decide which one they would like, so go home empty handed.
Later, Marie dreams about the dolls and suddenly finds herself back at the shop, having a splendid time dancing with all the dolls. But really it was all a dream.
Join Marie and all the other young dancers for an enchanting, not to be missed evening.
Badjelly the Witch, the much-loved, utterly loony Spike Milligan classic, is this year’s Glow Show!
The brilliantly nonsensical tale is being entirely reimagined with the unique Glow Show treatment.
The Glow Show’s utterly original mash-up of science, puppetry and music is a glorious experience for children and this year it will be a wonderfully nostalgic event for adults.
The goofiness of Bare Bottom Land, the giggle-inducing catch-cries like “Stinky poo to all of you!”, and the larger than life characters of Badjelly are set to bring a little fright and lots of fun to more than 30 venues across Aotearoa from July 5.
Nearly 100,000 Kiwi kids, parents and educators have seen a Glow Show; come and join the fun with the frolicking, witchy-poo, super-fun Badjelly the Witch!
Don't miss out!
Behind the Glow: 25 min Meet and Greet option after the show. Up close and personal with creator and puppetry. Limited availability.
Nelson Youth Theatre Company presents Disney’s Finding Nemo JR., a 60-minute musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo, with new music by award-winning songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (FROZEN).
Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clownfish, lives in the Great Barrier Reef with his kid Nemo, who longs to explore the world beyond their anemone home. But when Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean. With the help of lovable characters such as optimistic Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the supportive Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves.
Featuring memorable songs such as “Just Keep Swimming”, “Fish Are Friends Not Food”, and “Go With the Flow”, Finding Nemo JR. brings a vibrant underwater world to life on stage in a story full of family, friendship, and adventure.
Nelson Youth Theatre Company presents Disney’s The Lion King JR, a wonderful 70-minute, one-of-a-kind musical that has captivated the imagination of audiences around the world, featuring the combined creativity of Sir Elton John and Sir Tim Rice.
With life-size elephant, giraffes, rhino and other animals from the African savannah, and songs like the magical ‘Circle of Life’, ‘I just Can’t Wait To Be King’, ‘Be Prepared’, ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’ and ‘Hakuna Matata’, this is one spectacular show you won’t want to miss!
