Birmingham Royal Ballet’s signature production of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker turns 32 this year but after a full rebuild it is looking as good as new. To say the colour pops is an understatement - this production is vibrant, brilliant and stunningly beautiful.

The opening scene at the Stahlbaum’s Christmas Eve party is drenched in rich shade and fabric from the ruby and black curtains and chairs through to the shimmering green of the Christmas tree. Then we move to the Land of Snow where the costumes and sets sparkle, catching the light with every movement. And into the second act where the stage is dripping with painted flower petals, fans and moonscapes.

The rebuild, directed by the original designer John Macfarlane, has certainly given the whole production a new lease of life and colour which is greatly helped by David Finn’s lighting picking out the detail.

Created by Sir Peter Wright when he was director of BRB as a thank you gift to the city, The Nutcracker is certainly the gift which keeps on giving. Not only does it look sumptuous but the characterisation and the dancing is exquisite.

Karla Doorbar is on stage for much of the show as Clara, a girl on the cusp of womanhood who is entranced on Christmas Eve and carried away to other worlds where she discovers dangerous rats, sugar plum fairies and dancing snowflakes. Doorbar balances the childhood innocence and wonder of Clara with an awakening that she is leaving that period of her life behind her.

Rory Mackay is the mysterious magician Drosselmeyer who can conjure up party tricks but also carry Clara away from the safety of her home to another world. Mackay ensures Drosselmeyer remains an enigma, he seems sympathetic to Clara but there is more than a touch of menace about him as he directs the action and characters like a mighty puppet master.

Momoko Hirata takes on the technically challenging role of the Sugar Plum Fairy and carries it off with apparent ease while Mathias Dingman is the ideal Prince.

Afficionados of BRB’s Nutcracker will notice a few changes, and not just to the details of the set and costumes. The most noticeable is the whittling down of the Arabian Dance from four to two performers which reduces the impact of the jumps. But the production remains largely the same as it has done over the years.

The Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Paul Murphy must know The Nutcracker score off by heart by now and they are certainly fully confident with it, highlighting the subtle nuances of its romance but also giving full vent to his love of drama and pomp.

It has been a few years since Birmingham Hippodrome audiences were treated to a full scale Nutcracker after its cancellation during Covid and the performance of the Royal Albert Hall version last year while the full production was being rebuilt. But it has been worth the wait. This newly recreated Nutcracker is resplendent and gorgeous, serving to remind us just why the Birmingham Nutcracker has remained a firm favourite for three decades. A real Christmas cracker.

Five stars

Reviewed by Diane Parkes at Birmingham Hippodrome on Saturday 19 November. Birmingham Royal Ballet's The Nutcracker continues to show at the venue until Saturday 10 December.