| What: Cape Ballet Africa’s The Nutcracker When: February 25 to March 1, 2026 Where: Artscape Opera House, Cape Town Orchestra: The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra will accompany the performance live for selected performances and the other performances will be recorded music by the CTPO Choreography and stage direction: Maina Gielgud Costume design: Marcel Meyer Set design: Michael Mitchell Age advisory: The show is recommended for all ages over five years Tickets: R290 -R790 Bookings: Webtickets Facebook: Here Instagram: Here |
It was exhilarating to attend the opening on February 25, 2026 of The Nutcracker, presented by Cape Ballet Africa at Artscape in Cape Town. The dance is sublime – the grace of classical ballet – laced with elements of Neo-classicism and breathtaking athleticism. Staging and choreography by Maina Gielgud. Costume design by Marcel Meyer, set by Michael Mitchell, lighting by Patrick Curtis.
This Nutcracker is extraordinary in every way. It was like being at a rock concert in terms of audience response. Never mind, rapturous, the standing ovation was euphoric.
We watched with the Cape Town Philharmonic playing, conducted by Brandon Phillips. It is magic to have that great music of Tchaikovsky performed live. Some performances are set to recorded music. Bravo to Roxy Levey young dancer’s répétiteur. The dancers are age 6 to 15.
Even if you don’t like classical ballet, you are likely to fall in love with this Nutcracker- the exquisite costumes by Marcel Meyer, inspired dance by the company and delightful child dancers.
Bravo to Cape Ballet Africa’s founder and director, Debbie Turner and to her team. Let us applaud her vision in making this new imagining of the much loved ballet, a reality in South Africa 2025/2026 (it was first staged in Johannesburg in 2025). It is an epic scale ballet and a mammoth undertaking for a newly established ballet company to stage a classical ballet like the Nutcracker, with all the bells and whistles of the genre and yet imbue it with a contemporary vitality in terms of its sheer physicality.
Leading the bells and whistles are the costumes, designed by Marcel Meyer, who also performs as Drosselmeyer in the production. Over “a 100 costumes appear on stage in a single performance” he reflected in an interview. The palette starts off neutral, elegantly shimmering with silks in Act 1. In Act 2, the palette becomes saturated with deep pinks, magentas, plums. This is different to the pale and pretty pink hues, associated with the ballet, notes Meyer in our interview. One wants to touch the costumes – stroke them. They are richly layered with texture, layered with lace, trimmings, embroidery. And of course, wigs, masks and headdresses are all part of the design scheme. Meyer reflects: “For the palette, I wanted to create a visual journey. Act I, the “real world,” is in elegant Edwardian shades of ivory, cream, and black, inspired by sepia-toned realism. Colour is introduced gradually—Drosselmeyer’ s magical dolls, then the Nutcracker in navy blue and red. Act II explodes into Technicolor splendour: the Kingdom of Snow dazzles in whites and ice blues, and the Kingdom of Treats is rich and cohesive, with the Sugar Plum Fairy in deep plum, and the other treats in complementary reds, blues, and purples, echoing the Nutcracker Prince’s palette.” https://thecaperobyn.co.za/interview-designing-cape-ballet-africas-nutcracker-staged-by-maina-gielgud/
Meyer captivates as Drosselmeyer, the toymaker. This is an acting role. He doesn’t perform ballet but he uses his body, mirroring the movement of the dancers and in synch with the music. Meyer’s Drosselmeyer reminds me of a film director, watching, cuing everyone in, as they enter and acknowledging as they exit. Kudos to Maina Gielgud in her stage direction, never mind her stunning choreography. She heightens the theatricality and theatre, drama, particularly in Act 11, where we see the trio of Drosselmeyer, Clara and the Prince, perched on the edges of the performance space, as spectators. They are as enthralled as we are, as the delights and treats are revealed in Act II. This extraordinary production requires multiple viewings. It is sublimely beautiful, layered, entrancing. Hopefully, it will return soon.
✳ Cape Ballet Africa’s The Nutcracker. Photo: Lauge Sorensen.
