A brand-new performance of the English National Ballet’s Nutcracker had its world premiere at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre this week.

Friday night saw people of all ages transported into a world of sweets and delights as the audience was thrust into two hours of pure escapism.

Though the English National Ballet has performed various versions of the Nutcracker each festive season since 1950, Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky’s iconic musical themes remain the same.

Set against the backdrop of Edwardian London on Christmas Eve, the Nutcracker sees a young girl called Clara meet an enchanted Nutcracker doll after shopping with her mother at Drosselmeyer’s Sweets and Delights Emporium.

Following a night of music and dance, Clara goes to bed before being whisked off to a grand celebration held in her honour in a dream-like world – arranged by the Sugar Plum Fairy no less – that sees the Mayflower stage turn into a wintery ice realm.

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Flying seahorses, rat kings, and dancing liquorice are just some of the surprises on offer in the English National Ballet’s toe tapping reincarnation of the Nutcracker – featuring more than 100 dancers and musicians – that words fail to do justice. It is an experience that needs to be seen to be believed.

The Nutcracker has a unique cinematic quality with the use of projection and visual effects that come to life on a see-through screen, adding to the magic of the theatrical experience.

Speaking of what makes this new version of the Nutcracker so special, co-choreographer Arielle Smith, said: “Our Nutcracker respects the traditions of the story, and the narrative beats we’re used to, but we’ve also tried to elevate this.

“There are some twists and turns and some new things we’ve added.

“We wanted to challenge what we perceive Nutcracker to be and see what else we can deliver.

“It’s really exciting to approach a well-loved classic in a new way and I hope our audiences will feel is new and fresh.”

The Nutcracker’s musical director is Maria Seletskaja and  the ballet is choreographed by Aaron S. Watkin and Arielle Smith.