Don’t be fooled into thinking this is the traditional Tchaikovsky ballet we all know and love. This jolly production is a reimagined version of The Nutcracker made for the whole family, especially younger audiences. and is introduced by five mice playing musical instruments.
Little Bulb is an Olivier Award-winning theatre company presenting this light-hearted and silly version of The Nutcracker at St Martin’s, the theatre where the aptly named The Mousetrap has been performed for the past 75 years.
The production relies heavily on cardboard, used for mouse ears, buildings, beards, cars, mousetraps, and more, demonstrating how creative some theatre companies can be. I loved the set designed by Paul & Sophie Brown.
The five mice open the show by singing well-known ‘cheesy’ Christmas songs, including Jingle Bells, Jingle Bell Rock, and Snow is Falling, engaging the audience with exaggerated gestures and boundless energy. The audience also become a big part of the performance: there are moments of singalong, we are asked to make mouse ears and even asked to squeak like mice at the appropriate time.
The story takes place in Wimbledon where the siblings Clara and Fritz have relocated with their father who is grieving the loss of their mother. He has purchased a dilapidated house into which the family moves just before Christmas. This results in a series of mishaps and the unexpected arrival of their Auntie Hilda Drosselmeyer. Well portrayed by Caroline Partridge, she brings humour and joy to the role and also doubles as the Elder Mouse.
The energy from Clara (Lakeisha Lyunch-Stevens) and Fritz (Dominic Conway), was abundant throughout.
We are transported to a fantasy world of mice, where, much like in many a good pantomime, a boo-hiss villain makes an appearance. In this case, it’s the Mouse King, played brilliantly by Clare Beresford, who also acts as the narrator to guide us through the story. Additionally, she is the co-director of this production.
The Mouse King plans to steal the father’s Christmas present, a vacherin mont d’or cheese gifted by Aunt Hilda. The siblings then plot to stop the cheese being stolen.
Shamira Turner plays the father and also doubles as the Sugar Plum Fairy, from the Land of Sweets. I remember the days of pantomimes gone by when handfuls of sweets could be thrown into the audience. The big mice, like me (as the adults were referred to in the play) can only reflect wistfully on those long-gone times.
Since the mice live underground in the basement, we encounter issues with pipes, blocked toilets, and inevitable poo jokes for the children, which leads to a major scene in the show, but no spoilers here.
Without revealing the entire story, there are themes of sibling rivalry, grief, love overcoming hate, and forgiveness. But, as the cast say “This is a beloved Chrismouse story” and it is genuinely warm, funny, and engaging. There were a few moments during the show when I felt the cast had slightly lost the audience, and I think there could have been more interaction to maintain energy and engagement, but this soon passed.
This is an entertaining, clever and festive performance. Childish in all the right ways, and really this Nutcracker is a panto by any other name – but what’s not to love about that at this time of year.
Review by Fiona Gilbert
When two squabbling siblings receive a mysterious nutcracker from their flamboyant Aunt on Christmas Eve, it sets them off on a fantastical journey into ‘The Mousey Realm’. Can they put their differences aside and stop the evil, many-headed Mouse King before he ruins Christmas? Only time will tell…
This bold and brilliantly silly tale is brought to ingenious theatrical life with clever cardboard creations, comic characters and a chorus of cheeky musical mice. It’s crammed full of action, laugh-out-loud comedy, and a sleigh-load of feelgood festive bangers that’ll have you dancing in your seat – with just the right amount of cheese.
Reimagined and created by Little Bulb
Originally Co-Produced by Polka Theatre and Little Bulb
Written and devised by Clare Beresford, Dominic Conway and Alexander Scott, in collaboration with Lakeisha Lynch-Stevens, Caroline Partridge, Edith Tankus, and Shamira Turner.
Performed by: Clare Beresford, Dominic Conway, Lakeisha Lynch-Stevens, Caroline Partridge, Shamira Turner
Directed by Alexander Scott
Musical Direction by Clare Beresford & Dominic Conway
Designed by Sam Wilde
Lighting Design by Joshua Pharo
Sound Design by Sharon Tsang
Production Manager – Jenny Wheeler
Producer – Emily Davis
Brian Fenty and Mystery Holdings present Little Bulb’s production of
THE NUTCRACKER
St Martin’s Theatre, West Street, WC2H 9NZ
10 December 2025 to 4 January 2026
