Northern Ballet will bring to life everyone’s favourite festive story, The Nutcracker, at Manchester Opera House from Tuesday 22nd to Saturday 26th November. We have teamed up with the Opera House to promote their competition to give two lucky readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to the 7.30pm performance on Tuesday 22nd November.

The Nutcracker is a seasonal favourite told in a traditional way. Amidst the Christmas commotion the fire crackles and the pile of presents grows ever higher. As the clock strikes midnight Clara’s Nutcracker doll proves to be no ordinary toy. Clara is swept away by her Nutcracker prince into a magical winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes and the famous Sugar Plum Fairy.

Northern Ballet Artistic Director David Nixon, OBE, has set his version in the Regency period. The festivities of the season are captured by Charles Cusick Smith’s beautiful set designs, David Nixon’s vivid costumes, and Mark Jonathan’s lighting. The score is by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, arranged by John Longstaff and performed live by the Northern Ballet Sinfonia.

The Nutcracker is one of the world’s favourite ballets and has delighted audiences, young and old, for over 100 years. The perfect introduction to classical ballet, The Nutcracker has something for everyone, from the land of the snow, to the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

David Nixon says, “People like to return to ‘The Nutcracker’ because it reminds them of childhood and that magical time when your dreams can become reality – it awakens a childlike imagination in us all.”

Photograph taken by Bill Cooper.

HOW TO WIN!

Simply answer the following question and email us (click here) your answer, together with your name, address and daytime contact telephone number (please mark The Nutcracker Lancashire Competition in your subject line). Alternatively, you can post your entries to The Nutcracker Lancashire Competition, Newspaper Promotions, 23a Hardshaw Street, St Helens, WA10 1RT. Closing date is October 17, 2011. Usual Newsquest rules apply click here for full list. The Opera House may wish to contact you with further information, which may be of interest to you. Should you not wish to receive such information, please mark NO DATA on your entry.

QUESTION: Whose Nutcracker doll proves to be no ordinary toy?

  • Listing information: The Nutcracker, Opera House, Manchester, Tuesday 22nd to Saturday 26th November. Performances: Mon - Sat evenings 7.30pm. Thurs & Sat mats 2.30pm. Tickets: £13.50 - £35. Booking line: 0844 871 3018* subject to booking fee. Groups of 10+ Mon - Fri 10am - 6pm: 0844 871 3038.