Russian State Ballet and Opera House

This Christmas story is based on The Nutcracker And The Mouse King written by ETA Hoffmann. It tells the story of Marie, a rather sad little girl, whose godfather Drosselmeyer gives her a Nutcracker doll as a present on Christmas Eve which turns into a prince and the magic begins...

Having crept downstairs at midnight to play with her new Nutcracker doll, Marie is swept up in the ultimate Christmas fantasy adventure when it
comes magically to life and, with the aid of a box full of toy soldiers under the Christmas tree, defeats the army of the evil Mouse King who has invaded her house.

Lying mortally wounded after the battle, the Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome Prince who whisks Marie away through a Winter Wonderland to
the Land of Snow and then on to the Land of Sweets where the Sugar Plum Fairy entertains them like royalty with festive dances in recognition of the Prince's heroic defeat of the Mouse King.