Royal New Zealand Ballet Tickets

I don't know which was best, the dancing or the costumes, the staging or the sets. Each was superb. Together it was a spectacular and memorable experience.

Wow, what a great production of the Nutcracker! An amazing kiwiana take on the classic story. Loved the costumes and the set! And it was funny. Rare in a ballet.

This was a glorious rendition of "The Nutcracker"New Zealand at it's core. The Royal New Zealand Ballet Company is outstanding in every respect...this wonderful production showcased this and more. The cast, the sets, the production, the music..oh my goodness words fail it.

Such a fresh and inclusive take on a classical ballet that can often be staid and old fashioned, with inappropriate cultural presentations. Instead, here in the southern hemisphere we are given a true kiwi view of our land, our place and quirks that we all recognise as belonging to a summer in Aotearoa. RNZB, along with one of our own leading the company gives us an awesome setting, beautiful dancing, gorgeous costumes and choreography that stretches but does not overwhelm the dancers. Some beautiful tweaks while retaining the original heart of the storyline. The audience loved it and were 'heard' - unusual for a ballet setting but says lots about a ballet being made for an appreciative audience who saw themselves represented. How refreshing and FUN.

What a rich and refreshing presentation of what can often be a stilted and sterile ballet set in a contexts far removed from the Southern Hemisphere. RNZB, with Ty King-Wall at the helm have instead gifted all in Aotearoa a warm, bright and summery story that is truly ours and uses all the talents that the ballet company has in spades... quality dancers, stunning sets and beautiful costumes to enthrall us with a new vigour, to an exceptionally appreciative audience....and how great to hear children's voiced enthusiasm in the audience. We heard their marvel and wonder, much to any dancer's delight. While still following the traditional narrative and choreographic platform, we are gifted a new and stunning ballet, with humour and warmth alongside some demanding detailing in the lifts and steps to stretch soloists and group passages. Such an affirming and authentic story for kiwis.

The kind of Nutcracker you’d go to see every year notwithstanding the amount of times you’ve been. I went twice because I expect that it’ll be a decade before the RNZB puts it on again, though it will certainly be a Christmas miracle if it headlines the 2027 season as it did this year. Oh how much I love you Tracy Grant Lord!

My daughter and I both loved this performance. We've watched a number of performances by the RNZB and this was one of our favourites! The costumes were spectacular and the winter wonderland scene, complete with snowflakes dancing around, was absolutely delightful. We also loved the Kiwi twist with the beach scene, NZ flora and fauna. And of course, to all the dancers, who did an incredible job. Well done and may there be many more wonderful shows like this!

An absolutely wonderful sugarly, glossy ballet with the most amazing local backdrop. A pavlova of wonderful characters, dancing and deliciousness! Just wonderful from start to finish! Loved that clumsy bird and the picnic!

The opening was like no other Nutcracker I had ever seen! Loved the kiwi quirkiness of it. Loved the kids performances and loved the feel of the bach holiday! Only in New Zealand would you get a summer holiday feel to the Nutcracker - well done

Beautiful orchestra. Some cool ideas. But the dancing and overall theatre experience didn’t quite deliver what you’d expect for the ticket price. Felt more like a family show than a polished, professional Nutcracker. Rating: 5/10 Act I – A Slow and Wobbly Start The show opens with a Kiwi-style beach party scene and lots of kids running around. Charming idea, sure, but the dancing looked very beginner-level: Hands at different heights Jumps not landing in sync Energy all over the place It honestly felt a bit like a school recital rather than a national ballet company. I was close to thinking, “Crikey… should I leave in the interval?” The only saving grace here? The orchestra, tight, professional, and sounded fantastic. They lifted the room while the dancers struggled to keep up. Act II – Improvements, but Still Not There After the break, the story shifts to a snowy mountain dreamland. Technique did improve: Better duets A very cool overhead mountain-view moment Nicer costuming But still lacking that classic organized chaos of a world-class Nutcracker where dozens of dancers move like one powerful machine. Instead: Mostly small group pieces More “individual showcase” than cohesive storytelling Sets looked quite plain for a magical ballet It never reached that feeling of “Wow… this is ballet greatness!” What You Normally Expect in a Top-Tier Nutcracker When you go to a high-level company, especially Russian ballet, you see: Multiple perfect pirouettes Grand jetés that feel like flying 32 fouettés from the Sugar Plum Fairy (legendary moment!) Corps de ballet moving with military precision Lifts and partnering that look effortless This performance? Some dancers tried, but the results were far from that level. The gap is noticeable. Is It Fair to Compare NZ Ballet to Russian Ballet? Honestly? Not really. Russia: centuries of tradition and global talent pools NZ: small country, younger ballet scene, fewer resources BUT… We still pay ticket prices. So expectations rise with the cost, fair enough. What I got felt more like: Ordering tailored trousers and receiving a pair of shorts. No joke. The shorts scene was a disappointment for me. Not terrible, just not what you paid for. Audience Experience – Another Let-Down A big part of ballet is the Atmosphere. This one? Very casual. Too casual. Lots of people talking during the show Kids yelling and chatting People clapping loudly at odd times Felt like a playground audience Not the respectful hush of a proper ballet night. It ruined the mood, made the performance feel even less professional. Highlight of the Night Let’s give proper credit: The orchestra was exceptional. The conductor and musicians nailed it. Their quality stood out head-and-shoulders above the rest. Without them, the rating would honestly slip even lower. Final Verdict CategoryScore Orchestra⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 6/5 (yes, they saved the night!) Dancing⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆ 3/6 Story Magic⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆ 3/6 Stage Atmosphere⭐⭐☆☆☆☆ Overall Value⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆ 5/10 A fun local version with a Kiwi twist… but not a world-class Nutcracker. Worth it if: You want a family-friendly Christmas outing You enjoy supporting local arts Not worth it if: You love elite ballet and pay expecting that You want classic Nutcracker grandeur