FOR many, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Nutcracker is the herald to the festive season as the stage fills with Christmas cheer, magical snowflakes, candy sticks and growing Christmas trees.

It may be nearly 20 years old but this Sir Peter Wright production continues to hold that sparkle and sense of awe.

With special effects ranging from Alice-in-Wonderland style shrinking people to flying snow geese, it would be hard not to be charmed by this wonderful show.

At its centre is Carol-Anne Millar as the child-turning-adult Clara whose decision to creep downstairs at Christmas to fetch a present sends her off into a world of magic and mystery.

There she meets Chi Cao as the handsome prince whose pas de deux with Nao Sakuma as the Sugar Plum Fairy is a highlight of the show. Overseeing all of the action is Robert Parker as the imperious Drosselmeyer while Lei Zhao makes a charming Rose Fairy.

There are too many dancers to name in the credits but The Nutcracker is a series of tableaux giving many of the more junior members of the cast a real chance to shine - as Russians and Spaniards or as the Winds or Rats.

There were a couple of slight hitches on press night but those cast members affected carried on regardless and it did not take away from the overall wonder of this Birmingham-based Nutcracker.

Until Dec 13

VERDICT: 4/5