Backstage at the Nutcracker with The Royal Ballet on Christmas Day
For the first time in many years, The Royal Ballet has allowed BBC cameras to roam behind-the-scenes, this time as the Company prepares for Sir Peter Wright‘s production of The Nutcracker. The 90-minute documentary will go out on Christmas Day on BBC Two at 4pm.
The programme follows the debuts of numerous young dancers from the Royal Ballet School – from 11 year-old dancers at White Lodge to senior year students dancing as Snowflakes – as well following the Company’s newest Principal Dancers.
It visits the company over a three-month period leading up to the opening night, listening in on rehearsals and costume fittings, and watching from the wings.
The documentary aims to show the artistry and craftsmanship behind the theatrical magic, revealing not only the dedication of the dancers, but also the extraordinary skillset behind them that makes the Royal one of the world’s most prestigious companies.
Sunday 25 December
4.00pm-5.30pm
BBC TWO
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
I hope they release a DVD in America. Being a BBC Documentary is easy to imagine how great it will be.
I hope we can watch this on BBC TWO from Korea!