Reimagined 'The Nutcracker' comes to the West End this Christmas

Little Bulb’s "bold and brilliantly silly version" of the classic story was Olivier Award-nominated in 2025 following a run at the Polka Theatre.

Summary

• The Nutcracker heads to the St Martin's Theatre in the West End this Christmas
• This version of The Nutcracker is suitable for children aged 5 to 12
• The production was Olivier-nominated in 2025

A reimagined version of The Nutcracker will run at St Martin’s Theatre in the West End this Christmas. Performances will take places from 10 December to 4 January 2026.

Little Bulb’s "bold and brilliantly silly version" of the classic story was Olivier Award-nominated in 2025 following a run at the Polka Theatre. It became the venue's best-selling Christmas show in its 45-year history.

Designed for children aged five to 12, The Nutcracker tells the story of two squabbling siblings who receive a nutcracker from their aunt, which sets them on a journey into 'The Mousey Realm'. Can they join forces and put a stop to the evil Mouse King before he destroys Christmas? Transported to a London setting, the show features cardboard creations, comic characters, and even a chorus of musical mice.

The cast includes Clare Beresford, Dominic Conway, Lakeisha Lynch-Stevens, Caroline Partridge and Shamira Turner.

The creative team includes writers Clare Beresford, Dominic Conway, and Alexander Scott in collaboration with Lakeisha Lynch-Stevens, Caroline Partridge, Edith Tankus, and Shamira Turner, with direction by Alexander Scott, set and costume design by Sam Wilde, lighting design by Joshua Pharo, and sound design by Sharon Tsang. The music is co-directed by Clare Beresford and Dominic Conway.

Little Bulb said: “We are beyond excited to bring our madcap, ‘80s action film inspired version of The Nutcracker to the iconic St Martin’s theatre for our West End debut! It’s such a beautiful and intimate space bursting with theatre history, making it the perfect place for families to come and feel festive. But, here’s a twist in the tale… our version of this Christmas classic is told by the mice! That’s right, a chorus of cheeky mice playing in the home of the world’s most famous Mousetrap! What could possibly go wrong?”

Producer Brian Fenty said “I’m absolutely thrilled to be bringing Little Bulb’s brilliant production of The Nutcracker to the West End this Christmas. Their wildly inventive, joyously mischievous take on this beloved classic bursts with music, laughter, and heart — it is theatre at its most alive, making it a holiday treat that promises to surprise, delight, and utterly charm audiences of all ages.”

Book The Nutcracker tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: The Nutcracker. (Photo by Steve Gregson)