The Nutcracker

31 October to 4 November The Opera House Wellington, then Blenheim, Invercargill, Dunedin, Christchurch, Palmerston North, Napier, Auckland and Takapuna (tour ends 15 December) For the first time in eight years, the Royal New Zealand Ballet rolls out a national tour of Tchaikovsky’s festive offering with a richly costumed production featuring new staging by revered American choreographer Val Caniparoli. First performed in St Petersburg in 1892, the famous two-act ballet unfolds on Christmas Eve. When Clara is given a nutcracker doll, she falls asleep on the sofa and dreams a Christmas dream of magic and romance. Live orchestras perform the musical score in Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland and Dunedin with a specially made recording in other centres. rnzb.org.nz