Imperial Classical Ballet: The Nutcracker

Imperial Classical Ballet bring The Nutcracker to the Main Theatre at Storyhouse on Thursday 5 November, as part of their Autumn 2026 season. It's a live orchestral production, so the company performs to Tchaikovsky's score played by a full orchestra on the night rather than a recording.

That's the main thing to keep in mind here: the music is live. The company pairs it with hand-crafted costumes and classical choreography, with a cast of internationally acclaimed dancers and set designs that carry the story from the Christmas Eve party through to the Kingdom of Sweets. It's a family-friendly version of the classic, filled with shimmering snowflakes, swirling waltzes, enchanted toys and the journey of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince. The company describes it as the tradition that begins the festive spirit.

It's not their first time out on the road, either. The production comes to Chester after several sold-out UK tours and a warm reception nationwide, and this stop is one of the dates in their Autumn 2026 season.

It starts at 7:30pm and runs for one hour and 50 minutes, including an interval. Tickets are £25.35 to £42.45 for members and £28 to £47 for non-members.