Behind the scenes with Drosselmeyer

It's been truly wonderful to perform the role of Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker for so many years. It's a real combination of dancing and acting, with a healthy dose of magic too! Drosselmeyer is the heart of the story and transformation scenes in both our Birmingham and London productions.

In our Birmingham production, I can't help but get excited to be on stage during the transformation scenes, where I sense the Christmas tree grow behind me, the fireplace turn around and the Rat King suddenly appear. If I suspend belief I can kid myself into thinking I'm making all the magic happen myself, but in reality, it is a massive team effort behind the scenes.

We've been performing Sir David Bintley's production at The Royal Albert Hall since 2017. This huge and unique space, with an audience of around 5000 people at each performance, requires careful consideration to make the performance work while preserving the essence, energy and storytelling of the character's choreography – a thrilling experience every time.