Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet at Queen Elizabeth Theatre

The ballet is set on Christmas Eve, where family and friends have gathered, to decorate the Christmas tree. Presents are handed out to the children, when suddenly, as the old grandfather clock strikes eight, a mysterious man. It is Drosselmeyer, a local councilor, a known magician, and also Clara's godfather. He is also a talented toy maker, and he has brought gifts for the children. Four lifelike dolls who dance to the delight of all. But equally as suddenly, he then has them put away for safekeeping. Drosselmeyer has yet another toy for them, a wooden nutcracker carved into the shape of a little man. Clara immediately falls in love with it, but her brother, Fritz, accidentally breaks it. Clara is heartbroken, and Drosselmeyer assures Cara he can fix it.

After everyone else has gone to bed, Clara creeps downstairs to check on her nutcracker. The clock strikes midnight, and suddenly, mice begin to fill the room. The Christmas tree begins to grow. The nutcracker also grows to life-size. Clara soon finds herself in the middle of a fierce battle between an army of gingerbread soldiers and the mice, led by their Mouse king.

The mice begin to eat the gingerbread soldiers. The nutcracker appears to lead the soldiers, but is wounded. As the Mouse King advances on the wounded nutcracker, Clara throws her slipper at him, and distracts him, long enough for the nutcracker to stab him. The mice retreat and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome Prince.

He leads Clara through the moonlit night to a pine forest. Clara and the Prince travel to the beautiful Land of Sweets, ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy, who is looking after the Prince's place until he returns. He tells of Clara’s bravery and how he had been saved from the Mouse King. In honor of the young heroine, a celebration of sweets from around the world is produced. To conclude the night, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier perform a dance. A final waltz is performed by all the sweets, after which the Sugar Plum Fairy ushers Clara and the Prince down from their throne. He bows to her, she kisses Clara goodbye, and leads them to a reindeer-drawn sleigh. It takes off as they wave goodbye to all the subjects who wave back.