The Nutcracker Opens December 1, 2023 at the Playhouse Theatre, QPAC

The Nutcracker December 1 - 20, 2023 Playhouse, QPAC Queensland Ballet invites families of all ages to celebrate one of the most popular and magical holiday traditions this season as The Nutcracker returns for its eleventh year.

Captivate audiences with a dazzling winter wonderland where anything is possible - crackling fireplaces, fluttering snowflakes and enchanting toys coming alive to frolic and play.

It is also the last season for outgoing Artistic Director Li Cunxin AO , who encouraged audiences to share in the joy and magic of Christmas with Brisbane’s cherished annual tradition.

“A favourite of mine and so many others, The Nutcracker is the perfect Christmas experience for families of all generations.”

A total of 36 local children are involved in this season’s production, offering the perfect pathway for youngsters to experience working with a professional ballet company. The children are split into three groups and rotate performances. They are onstage from the opening of the performance, making their way to the Christmas gathering, then frivolity and cheeky antics follow in the party scene. They are back on again in the second act, appearing out from under the giant mother ginger.

Follow Clara and the Nutcracker Prince on an unforgettable journey across the Lemonade Sea to the Kingdom of Sweets, where they'll be met with delectable delights and mesmerizing entertainment. Enjoy character favourites like the Sugar Plum Fairy, King Rat, Drosselmeyer and more as they tell the beloved story that has been captivating audiences since 1892.

Get swept away in a world where fireplaces come alive, dreams can come true, and festive joy knows no bounds.

Queensland Ballet presents Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker from 1 – 20 December at the Playhouse Theatre, QPAC. For more information, click here .

Also coming up next month is Love & Legacy: Celebrating Li Cunxin at Queensland Performing Arts Centre, (QPAC) on 12 and 13 December .

This celebratory season features excerpts from Li’s magnificent 11-year tenure as Artistic Director, from 2013 to 2023, as he led the Company through a transformational period of growth and sparkling success.

Experience the romance of a Cinderella pas de deux (Ben Stevenson OBE) and Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s iconic Romeo and Juliet Balcony pas de deux, alongside the evocative Tango from Dracula (Krzysztof Pastor). Summertime from Derek Deane’s Strictly Gershwin and the sizzling Sympathy of the Devil from Rooster (Christopher Bruce) returns to the stage, as well as excerpts from Swan Lake (Ben Stevenson OBE), Dangerous Liaisons (Liam Scarlett), Glass Concerto (Greg Horsman) and more.