REVIEW: A NUTCRACKER CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE
We journey through the lands of toys, sweets, snowflakes and flowers on a quest to rescue the Sugarplum Fairy
Leeds Castle has been transformed into a magical, immersive Nutcracker experience, where we journey through the lands of toys, sweets, snowflakes and flowers on a quest to rescue the Sugarplum Fairy.
The Nutcracker himself greets us at the grand, Christmas tree flanked doors to the castle, which is bulging with enough beautifully decorated trees to fill an enchanted forest.
The installations and decorations are jaw-dropping and have the starring role in this reimagining of the festive classic, alongside live actors, playing the Sugarplum Fairy, the Nutcracker and the mischievous Mouse King.
We shrink in Clara’s bedroom, where her giant toys come to life around us. There are life-sized musical jewellery boxes for our children to spin on like little ballerinas, with giant golden keys to twist in their backs.
We rummage through fancy dress boxes for the children to join the Mouse King on his stage for photographs, dressed as mini Nutcackers. It’s a breathless romp through room after stunning room, with our children excitedly searching for clues and delighting at each new discovery.
We discover bedrooms filled with gingerbread houses, snow and trees; enormous twinkling trees through the window in the cobbled courtyard and vintage toys beneath trees, ready for Christmas Day.
Stunning chandeliers and Christmas trees constructed from tutus and ballet slippers herald our meeting with the Sugar Plum Fairy, in a magical room, festooned with giant candy canes, sweets, trees and twinkling lights.
The experience culminates with a sword fight showdown between the Nutcracker and Mouse King, who is finally defeated.
We leave this impossibly festive and cosy experience back into the cold night of the castle grounds, where the Nutcracker waves us off with a wink… was it all a dream?
A Nutcracker Christmas, Leeds Castle, Broomfield, Maidstone ME17 1PL. 23 November to 5 January. Included with admission ticket, which also gives you access to Leeds Castle for a year
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