Bucks &amp; Oxon

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1337" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-night-time-Creation-Theatre.jpg" alt="The Nutcracker Creation Theatre Oxford show 2025" class="wp-image-199962" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-night-time-Creation-Theatre.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-night-time-Creation-Theatre-800x535.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-night-time-Creation-Theatre-1000x669.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-night-time-Creation-Theatre-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-night-time-Creation-Theatre-1536x1027.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Creation Theatre&#8217;s The Nutcracker, photo by Geraint Lewis</figcaption></figure>



Ballet groupies, pas du bourrée your way out of here if you’re hoping for a time-honoured staging of <a href="https://creationtheatre.co.uk/show/nutcracker/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Nutcracker </a>at The North Wall in Oxford. The ever-innovative <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/creation-theatre-company-oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Creation Theatre </a>is in charge, and the company’s interpretation of the classic Christmas story is, as you’d expect from the notoriously eccentric storytellers, more of a pacy comedy caper than a straight-laced dance number. If you’re seeking a Christmas show that fills the gap between highbrow performances and panto, this, dear friends, is it.&nbsp;



Just to chassé you through a quick refresher of the OG German fairytale, the plot centres on Marie, a young girl whose favourite Christmas toy, a Nutcracker, mysteriously comes to life at nighttime, alongside a parade of other toys in the household. The Nutcracker whisks Marie away to sweet-filled lands before battling a formidable Mouse King and his rodent troops. Spoiler alert: the good guys, gals and toys beat the mice and a ye olde curse on the Nutcracker is broken, turning him back into a prince (“with knees!”, as Creation’s very own Nutcracker exclaims).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1344" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-opening-scene.jpg" alt="The Nutcracker Creation theatre opening scene" class="wp-image-199965" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-opening-scene.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-opening-scene-800x538.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-opening-scene-1000x672.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-opening-scene-400x269.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-opening-scene-1536x1032.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hayley Murray as Marie (l), Asha Cornelia Cluer as Mum (cl), Clark Alexander as Uncle Drosselmeyer (cr), Andy Owens as Fritz (r), photo by Geraint Lewis</figcaption></figure>



E.T.A Hoffmann’s original story is renowned for being darker than Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet, but Creation Theatre leaves the darkness at the door; instead you’re greeted by carol singers and take your pew in a sparkly sweet-decked auditorium. There’s no bad seats at The North Wall, but sit on the FROW for this show and you’re in for some special treats.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1777" height="2560" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-family-scene-scaled.jpg" alt="The Nutcracker Creation Theatre Christmas show" class="wp-image-199967" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-family-scene-scaled.jpg 1777w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-family-scene-555x800.jpg 555w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-family-scene-694x1000.jpg 694w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-family-scene-278x400.jpg 278w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-family-scene-1066x1536.jpg 1066w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-family-scene-1422x2048.jpg 1422w" sizes="(max-width: 1777px) 100vw, 1777px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by Geraint Lewis</figcaption></figure>



The show opens in a living room that will be familiar to many at this time of year. The mother of the Stahlbaum household, played by the all-singing, all-dancing Asha Cornelia Cluer in her Creation Theatre debut, is keeping up the festive cheer while clearly feeling a little frazzled thanks to squabbling siblings, tree-decorating gone wrong, mince pies burning in the oven and an uncle popping round imminently. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1402" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-theatre-sweet-scene.jpg" alt="The Nutcracker land of sweets Creation Theatre" class="wp-image-199969" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-theatre-sweet-scene.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-theatre-sweet-scene-800x561.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-theatre-sweet-scene-1000x701.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-theatre-sweet-scene-400x280.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-theatre-sweet-scene-1536x1077.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Asha Cornelia Cluer as The Sugarplum Fairy (l), Andy Owens as Lollipop Man (r), photo by Geraint Lewis</figcaption></figure>



Cluer plays Clara and The Sugar Plum Fairy as well as ‘Mum’, which felt quite relatable to me, and her dance and rap solo later in the show is proof of her versatility. She’s spinning a lot of plates, both in the everyday and in the surreal realms of toys and sweets. She’s got a cracking voice and keeps everyone in line, not least her children Marie and Fritz, played by Creation Theatre veterans Hayley Murray and Andy Owens.&nbsp;



Murray’s Marie is full of childlike wonder and innocence, wishing only for “world peace and roller skates” for Christmas. She finds her feet as a leader later in the show (her recorder skills are on point) and she’s the only actor who isn’t shapeshifting in this production; everyone else plays multiple parts, segueing into their roles seamlessly. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1438" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-Mouse-King.jpg" alt="The Nutcracker Mouse King Creation Theatre" class="wp-image-199971" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-Mouse-King.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-Mouse-King-800x575.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-Mouse-King-1000x719.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-Mouse-King-400x288.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-Mouse-King-1536x1104.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Andy Owens as the Mouse King, photo by Geraint Lewis</figcaption></figure>



Owens’ Fritz is the perfect whiny and irritating older brother who at one point has to Youtube how to make a cup of tea, but he really steals the show as the mob boss-esque Mouse King. You won’t forget his mouse-pun peppered Shakespearean soliloquy in a hurry – Owens really flexes his Guildford School of Acting training, as well as Creation Theatre’s expertise in giving classic texts a modern, wacky spin. He also plays a Cockney Lollipop Man; he’s got a lot going on.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1465" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Clark-Alexander.jpg" alt="Clark Alexander The Nutcracker Creation Theatre" class="wp-image-199973" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Clark-Alexander.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Clark-Alexander-800x586.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Clark-Alexander-1000x733.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Clark-Alexander-400x293.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Clark-Alexander-1536x1125.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Clark Alexander as The Nutcracker, photo by Geraint Lewis</figcaption></figure>



Creation Theatre newbie Clark Alexander takes the lead as the Nutcracker and Uncle Drosselmeyer and as the former his commitment to the character is formidable – he doesn’t bend his limbs for almost the entire show and puts in some serious on-stage ab work when he gets knocked over during toy-on-rodent scuffles. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1333" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcrcaker-Creation-Theatre-Sugarplum-Fairy.jpg" alt="The Nutcracker Creation Theatre Oxford North Wall" class="wp-image-199978" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcrcaker-Creation-Theatre-Sugarplum-Fairy.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcrcaker-Creation-Theatre-Sugarplum-Fairy-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcrcaker-Creation-Theatre-Sugarplum-Fairy-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcrcaker-Creation-Theatre-Sugarplum-Fairy-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcrcaker-Creation-Theatre-Sugarplum-Fairy-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Nutcracker and The Sugar Plum Fair, photo by Geraint Lewis</figcaption></figure>



He’s got fab musical prowess too – he conducts various scenes from the top of the set as Uncle Drosselmeyer and his voice is very rousing. Clark’s dad Graeme is the bassist in Wet Wet Wet, so tuneful talent clearly runs in the family. The score by Patrick Stockbridge gives the actors a lot to work with; there’s everything from poppy ensemble pieces to catchy raps, and choreographer Clare Rickard’s had a lot of fun too; the ‘candyflossing’ by the chorus of sweets is a particular highlight.



Speaking of the chorus, it’s made up of 24 kids from the local area who are part of Creation Theatre’s youth education programme. They put on a brilliant show and clearly relish working alongside the pros, especially baring their teeth and exercising their lungs as naughty mice. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1478" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-cast.jpg" alt="The Nutcracker Creation Theatre cast " class="wp-image-199975" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-cast.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-cast-800x591.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-cast-1000x739.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-cast-400x296.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/The-Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-cast-1536x1135.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Nutcracker cast, photo by Geraint Lewis</figcaption></figure>



The entire auditorium’s a stage; there’s dramatic use of the balcony, the main characters roam the stalls and audience participation feels light and ad lib rather than forced. Expect to be handed a prop, recorder or handful of brussels sprouts at any time. There’s subtle Toy Story references that young ones will love as well as a fair bit of meow-ing, but plenty of witticisms in writer and director Helen Eastman’s pacy script to tickle the adults too. The ending celebrates the fact that the &#8220;perfect&#8221; Christmas simply doesn&#8217;t exist, so you may as well jazz-hands your way through it all. Another take home lesson? Never eat an entire wheel of camembert&nbsp;in one sitting. 



Creation Theatre turns 30 next year, but this piece proves that they’re full of youthful spirit and energy. We predict that their 30th will really pop off – just watch this space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1339" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-battle.jpg" alt="The Nutcracker Creation Theatre Oxford show" class="wp-image-199976" style="aspect-ratio:1.492537313432836;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-battle.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-battle-800x536.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-battle-1000x670.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-battle-400x268.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Nutcracker-Creation-Theatre-battle-1536x1028.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Mouse King and The Nutcracker in battle, photo by Geraint Lewis</figcaption></figure>



Good for: A family outing for those who find big pantos a bit overwhelming but still want to get swept up in a magical Christmas show that has plenty of clever asides for the grown-ups. You’ll be toe-tapping all the way home and the cast are clearly having a whale of a time throughout, which means that you will too. My husband and I were beaming all the way back to Buckinghamshire and we went sans small people (at three-years-old, son might have thrown a wobbler at all of the nefarious rodents).&nbsp;



Not for: Don’t sit on the front row if you’re shy; the Mouse King locked eyes with our neighbour for his entire Shakespearean speech scene. He could handle the heat, but just a heads-up. As Creation Theatre advises, it’s best for those aged over five too; some of the scenes will fly over very little ones&#8217; heads, and the Mouse King will give them jump scares. Otherwise, crack on.



<a href="https://creationtheatre.co.uk/show/nutcracker/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Nutcracker</a> is at <a href="https://www.thenorthwall.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The North Wall Arts Centre</a>, South Parade, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7JN until Sat 3 Jan 2025. Tickets £15 – £35. There are accessible performances on 12 and 30 Dec and relaxed performances on 23 and 29 Dec. <a href="https://creationtheatre.co.uk/show/nutcracker/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Book here.</a>

Review: The Nutcracker, North Wall, Oxford

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