This Christmas, Olivier Award-winning theatre company Little Bulb (Wolf Witch Giant Fairy, CBeebies Christmas Pantos) presents its bold, critically acclaimed reimagining of The Nutcracker at St Martin’s Theatre in the West End, running from 10 December 2025 to 4 January 2026. Co-produced with Polka Theatre, this audacious and delightfully silly take on the classic tale was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2025 after a record-breaking run as Polka’s best-selling Christmas show in its 45-year history.
Set in a vibrant London backdrop, Little Bulb’s The Nutcracker is a magical, musical adventure bursting with inventive cardboard props, comical characters, and a mischievous chorus of musical mice. Packed with action, laugh-out-loud humor, and festive bangers, it’s a joyful treat for young theatregoers and their families.
The story follows two bickering siblings who receive a mysterious nutcracker from their eccentric Aunt on Christmas Eve, sparking a fantastical journey into ‘The Mousey Realm.’ Can they overcome their differences to defeat the villainous, many-headed Mouse King and save Christmas? Join them to find out!
The show is performed by Clare Beresford, Dominic Conway, Lakeisha Lynch-Stevens, Caroline Partridge and Shamira Turner. It was devised and written by Clare Beresford, Dominic Conway and Alexander Scott in collaboration with Lakeisha Lynch-Stevens, Caroline Partridge, Edith Tankus, and Shamira Turner, and directed by Alexander Scott, with set and costume design by Sam Wilde, lighting design by Joshua Pharo, and sound design by Sharon Tsang. The music is co-directed by Clare Beresford and Dominic Conway.
One of Britain’s most original and beloved theatre collectives, Little Bulb have been celebrated for their inventive, genre-defying productions that blend music, storytelling, and playful imagination. Known for their distinctive homemade aesthetic and boundless creativity, the company has delighted audiences across the UK with their signature mix of humour, heart, and hand-crafted theatrical magic. This Christmas season of The Nutcracker marks the first time the company has performed in the West End.
Little Bulb said: “We are beyond excited to bring our madcap, ‘80s action film inspired version of The Nutcracker to the iconic St Martin’s theatre for our West End debut! It’s such a beautiful and intimate space bursting with theatre history, making it the perfect place for families to come and feel festive.”
Brian Fenty said “I’m absolutely thrilled to be bringing Little Bulb’s brilliant production of The Nutcracker to the West End this Christmas. Their wildly inventive, joyously mischievous take on this beloved classic bursts with music, laughter, and heart — it is theatre at its most alive, making it a holiday treat that promises to surprise, delight, and utterly charm audiences of all ages.”
Tickets from £12.50 – £42.50 are available via nutcrackerchristmas.com
