
Children under 5 will not be admitted. Recommended for ages 5 and above.
Performance Dates
17 Dec 2026 – 10 Jan 2027
Run time: 2hrs
Includes interval
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Experience a quintessential festive tradition with the Nutcracker at London Coliseum. Yet, London offers so much more for theatre aficionados. From enchanting seasonal ballets to acclaimed productions in the heart of London’s theatre district, there’s no shortage of captivating experiences. Discover a dazzling array of London shows that captivate audiences in many forms, from high-energy West End musicals to thought-provoking London plays that elevate the art of storytelling on stage.
Set in Edwardian London, The Nutcracker transports audiences to a magical Christmas Eve. Clara and her mother are out shopping at Drosselmeyer’s Sweets & Delights Emporium, where Clara encounters a mystical Nutcracker doll. They bring home treats like liquorice allsorts, nougat, marzipan, and, of course, sugarplums to share with their party guests. As music and laughter fill the air, Clara experiences a magical vision of sugarplums, setting the stage for an adventure where she courageously defends her home from the Rat King before discovering a dazzling ice realm and its Queen.
Step into a world of wonder and follow Clara on a journey to the Land of Sweets & Delights, where the Sugar Plum Fairy has planned a magnificent celebration in her honour.
The Nutcracker ballet tells the magical Christmas Eve story of a young girl, Clara, who receives a nutcracker doll drom hrer godfather, Drosselmeyer. The doll comes to life, leading her through a battle against the Mouse King to a dreamlike Land of Sweets, where she is welcomed by the Sugar Plum Fairy.
The six dances appear in Act II of The Nutcracker. The sweet-themed dances follows: turron (Spanish nougat), sahlab (Egyptian hot orchid root milk with cinnamon); tanghulu (Chinese candied hawthorn berries); makivnyk (Ukrainian poppyseed rolls); marzipan-zwiebelflöten (German marzipan-mirlitons); liquorice allsorts; buttercream roses and sugar plums. These are sometimes preceded by the Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy.
Children under the age of 16 must be seated with an adult/someone over 18. The adult cannot be sitting separately.
Latecomers - if you are late, you will be able to view the performance on a TV monitor whilst our staff wait for an appropriate point in the performance to allow you to enter the auditorium and take your seat. Our staff will try to do this as early as they can within the performance but this isn’t always possible and in some cases you may be asked to wait until the interval.

29 Apr, 2023 | By Kevin Thomas

1 Dec, 2017 | By Phlex X

5 Dec, 2016 | By Shanine Salmon

7 Oct, 2014 | By London Theatre Direct

28 Oct, 2013 | By London Theatre Direct