A ballerina in a pink jewelled tutu and tiara mid-pose, against a dark red and grey background.

The Nutcracker

  • Dance
  • Ballet
  • The Australian Ballet

For Tradition

The Australian Ballet return with the beloved festive ballet The Nutcracker. Sir Peter Wright’s magical production remains faithful to the 19th-century original and will fill audiences with the Christmas spirit.

Tchaikovsky’s last ballet score, with its famous motifs and melodies, draws viewers into the story of Clara, a young ballet student celebrating with her family on Christmas Eve. World-renowned designer John F. Macfarlane exquisitely evokes the world of this picture-perfect ballet: whirling snowflakes, crackling fires, bandbox soldiers, a Christmas tree that grows until it brushes the ceiling, and a Sugar Plum Fairy in luscious candy-floss pink.

There’s no better way than The Nutcracker for audiences to rediscover the childlike joys of the holiday season or create their own family tradition.

Presented by The Australian Ballet

Event details

Production credits

Choreography 
Peter Wright, Lev Ivanov, Vincent Redmon

Additional choreography courtesy of 
Birmingham Royal Ballet

Music 
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Costume and set design 
John F. Macfarlane

Lighting design 
David Finn

With Opera Australia Orchestra

Attending this event

You may also like

Celia Pacquola

8 Nov 2026

  • Comedy
Woman's face sits center, on a maroon background, with an unsure smile and side eyes. She wears a white t-shirt with the word lucky and big hoop earrings as her brown wavy hair falls over her shoulders.

Courtney Barnett

6 Nov 2026

  • Contemporary Music
A woman with long brown hair and a fringe sits slumped in a chair slightly side on to the right. They are wearing a buttoned white shirt and black jacket.

Velvet Inferno

24 Jul – 13 Sep 2026

  • Cabaret
  • Musical Theatre
  • Theatre
Gold and silver high heels stand on either side of a gold, sparkly disco ball as they are engulfed in hot flames, indicating disco inferno

Plan your visit

Address

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Getting to the venue

The Opera House is a 7-10 minute walk from Circular Quay, and is easily accessible by car, train, ferry, lightrail, bus, bike and on foot.

Location and access

Joan Sutherland Theatre

The Joan Sutherland Theatre is located at the northern side of the foyer, to the left hand side of the stairs leading to the Concert Hall. Best accessed through the covered concourse. All Sydney Opera House foyers are accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators).

  • Checking availability