Press release

8 Sep 2022 Dublin, IE

Ballet Ireland, in association with EY Ireland, is back this Christmas with ‘Nutcracker Sweeties’ – an Irish twist on a classic Christmas tale

Dublin, 08 September 2022: Presenting a newly extended performance, this year’s audiences will enjoy the full magic of Nutcracker Sweeties in venues across Ireland.

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Ballet Ireland in partnership with EY Ireland
Presenting a newly extended performance, this year’s audiences will enjoy the full magic of Nutcracker Sweeties in venues across Ireland.

Looking for the perfect date night, something different to kick off the festive season with the kids or just indulge in the magic that is live theatre? Look no further as Ballet Ireland has announced the their production of a festive Christmas classic – ‘Nutcracker Sweeties’. In partnership with EY Ireland, a cast of world class dancers will tour 14 venues throughout the island of Ireland, including opening night in The Gaiety Theatre on Wednesday 16th running until Saturday 19th November 2022.

Equipped with passion and vigour, Ballet Ireland and EY Ireland are set to transport audiences into a world of both the familiar and unfamiliar with their Irish tale of ‘Nutcracker Sweeties’, through the language of classical ballet. Set in a department store in Dublin, Ciara and her brother Fionn wander off from their parents where the magic of the Nutcracker begins. The pair are rescued by the Nutcracker Doll who comes to life transporting them to the magical Kingdom of The Sweets where the two meet the majestic Sugar Plum Fairy.

Ballet Ireland

EY Ireland has announced today that it is proud to once again partner with Ballet Ireland for its Autumn programme which will see the company tour across the island of Ireland with Nutcracker Sweeties production. Pictured at the announcement of the sponsorship.

Dancers - Niamh O' Flannagain, Dominic Harrison

Speaking about EY Ireland’s sponsorship of the Ballet Ireland programme, Niamh O’Beirne, EY Ireland Partner and Head of Business and People Consulting, commented:

Ballet Ireland is an incredible company which provides the opportunity for men and women across the island of Ireland to share their talent. We are proud to work with them to help make their productions more accessible to audiences everywhere and we are delighted to be supporting such high calibre performers. The arts community is incredibly vibrant on the island of Ireland and we are pleased to celebrate the fantastic contribution that Ballet Ireland makes in this space.”

Speaking on Ballet Ireland’s ‘Nutcracker Sweeties’, Anne Maher, Director and Co-Founder of Ballet Ireland said:

“I am very proud of today's announcement of both our Nutcracker Sweeties tour and that of our title sponsor, EY. It is through strong partnerships and aligning with a company that shares values that we can grow Ballet Ireland and expand the work that we are doing. EY and Ballet Ireland first partnered for Swan Lake in 2019. Our relationship has grown stronger over the years enabling us to look forward to the future with confidence and pride.

This year we are thrilled to present an extended version of Nutcracker Sweeties, providing audiences with a magical visual experience they will not forget.”
 
With choreography by Morgann Runacre-Temple, audiences of all ages will be enthralled by Nutcracker Sweeties’ fairy tale magic, exquisite costumes, and a re-imagined Tchaikovsky score. A tale of wondrous adventure that combines to form one of the most delectable Christmas confections imaginable.

‘Nutcracker Sweeties’ is touring from 5th November – 23rd December. See tour dates below.

Tickets for the Gaiety Theatre range from €13 - €45 (plus booking fees).

 @balletireland

TOUR DATES

Theatre at The Mill, Newtownabbey

Fri 5 & Sat 6 Nov, 7.45pm

Fri 5 & Sat 6 Nov, 7.45pm
Tickets: £23/£20/£16 with £3.50 for conc / children
Booking: theatreatthemill.com /  028 9034 0202

Millennium Forum, Derry/Londonderry

Wed 9 Nov, 7.30pm

Tickets: £16.50, £20.00, £23.50 (includes Development Fee)

Booking:  millenniumforum.co.uk / (028)71 264455

Market Place Theatre, Armagh

Sat 12 Nov, 8pm

Tickets:  £22 and £20 [concession]

Booking: visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre   / 03300 561 025

Gaiety Theatre, Dublin

Wed 16 - Sat 19 Nov 2022

7.30pm Nightly / 2.30pm Sat Mat

Tickets from €13*

*Additional booking fees may apply

Performance Dates & year

www.gaietytheatre.com l Gaiety Theatre Box Office l groups@gaietytheatre.cm

Siamsa Tíre, Tralee

Wed 23 Nov, 8pm

Tickets:  €27/22

Booking: siamsatire.com /  066 712 3055

O’Reilly Theatre

National Opera House, Wexford

Sat 26 Nov, 7.30pm

€25 / €20 concession / €15 child under 16 / €70 Family Ticket

Booking: nationaloperahouse.ie / 053 912 2144

The Civic Theatre, Tallaght

Tues 29 - Weds 30 November, 7pm

Tickets: €27, €25 & under 16's €16

Booking: civictheatre.ie / 01 4627477

Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick

Fri 2 & Sat 3 Dec, 8pm

Tickets: €25 / €20 / €85 (family ticket x4)

Booking: limetreetheatre.ie / 061 953 400

An Grianán Theatre

Tues 6 Dec, 8pm

Tickets: €27/€22, under 18s €15, family of four €70

Booking: angrianan.com / 074  91 20777

Draíocht, Blanchardstown

Fri 9 & Sat 10 Dec, 8pm

Tickets: € 27/ €25 / € 18 for under 16’s

Booking:  draiocht.ie / 01-885 2622

Town Hall Theatre, Galway

Tue 13 & Wed 14 Dec, 8pm

Tickets €25*/€22.50*

Booking: tht.ie / 091 569777

*All Tickets Are Subject to THT Booking & Development Fee €1/Ticket

glór, Ennis

Fri 16 4pm, 7.30pm  & Sat 17 Dec, 7.30pm

Tickets: €25 adult, €20 concession, €18 child - Family ticket €80

Booking: glor.ie / 065 6843103

Solstice Arts Centre, Navan

Tue 20 Dec, 7.30pm

Tickets: €25/20  and family of 4 for €80

Booking: solsticeartscentre.ie/  046 909 2300

Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray

Thurs 22 & Fri 23 Dec, 7pm

Tickets:  €30 full price, €25 concession and €100 for a family of 4.

Booking: mermaidartscentre.ie / 01 272 4030

About Morgann Runacre-Temple

Morgann is a freelance choreographer from London working in ballet, contemporary dance, theatre, film and opera. She has created work for Northern Ballet, Scottish Ballet, English National Ballet, Ballet Centra and multiple other global companies. Morgann was choreographer in residence at Ballet Ireland from 2009 - 2015 creating over five full-length ballets including: Cinderella, Romeo & Juliet, Carmen and Coppélia.

In partnership with Jessica Wright, Morgann directs and choreographs dance films. Credits include: The Try Out for RANDOM ACTS Channel 4, The Last Resort (English National Ballet & TATE Liverpool) and Curing Albrecht (English National Ballet & Manchester International Festival, available on BBC iPlayer) Curing Albrecht won Best Film 2018 at NRDFF and Best Director at Portland Dance Film Festival.

About Ballet Ireland

Ballet Ireland presents both traditional full-length classics and newly commissioned ballets that resonate with audiences of today. The originality of Ballet Ireland’s work has attracted a company of highly trained international dancers, who are recognised by audiences and critics alike for their individual style and razor sharp technique.

Established in 1998 by Gunther Falusy and Anne Maher, each spring and autumn, the company performs in large scale theatres in Dublin and throughout Ireland. Touring affords the opportunity for our regional audiences to access and enjoy professional ballet and to inspire young and talented students all over Ireland.

In addition to professional performances, Ballet Ireland are champions of cultivating future talent. The company’s summer schools provide aspiring young students with week-long workshops. These workshops culminate in onstage performances with dancers from the company. In 2013 Ballet Ireland were honoured to announce President Michael D. Higgins as their Patron.