There's something essentially innocent and child-like about Pepita's enduring classic about a young girl who falls sweetly in love with a wooden soldier on Christmas Eve, and enters a fantasy world of dancing flowers, mice, and sugar plum fairies. Nixon's lovely production keeps faith with the concept of innocence abroad.

At the same time he plays up the fantastical element with some spectacular sets courtesy of Charles Cusick Smith and extravagant costumes. Nixon designed the costumes and if he ever gave up choreography he would have another brilliant career lined up. Such is the glittering sumptuousness of the frocks, cloaks, fairy costumes, snowflake and flower girl outfits that they occasionally threaten to overpower the dancing and smother the audience in a haze of glamour.

After a reasonably straightforward scene-setting first half set in a Georgian drawing room where a wealthy couple give a Christmas Eve party for their friends and children, the action moves to the magical realm where Clara and her wooden soldier, transformed into a handsome chap in yet another stunning powder-blue frock coat enter a winter wonderland and effectively become spectators to a series of delightful divertissements.

Displays of Spanish, Arabian, French and Chinese ballet take the plot, such as it is, nowhere but provide a showcase for NBT's principals to shimmer and shine to Tchaikovsky's irresistible score. Even the most jaded balletophobe couldn't fail to be entranced by the dance of the snowflakes and the sugar plum fairy, nor the puppet dolls, all jerky limbs and robotic motion.

This Nutcracker is charming froth, every little girl's ultimate fantasy ballet, and perfect festive or pre-festive fare.

Jane Tadman