Christmas magic starts with Ballet Ireland’s National Tour of Nutcracker Sweeties 2 November – 14 December 2024

Ballet Ireland, in association with EY Ireland, present their hugely popular Nutcracker Sweeties at 11 venues across Ireland, including five performances at The Gaiety Theatre. Tour dates and venues are listed below.

For people who have never seen a ballet, Nutcracker Sweeties is the perfect introduction to this extraordinary art form.

Ballet Ireland is deeply invested in reaching new and diverse audiences by creating ballets everyone can enjoy.

More than any other ballet, the story of The Nutcracker is charming and joyous, and in the creative hands of Ballet Ireland, Nutcracker Sweeties is a vibrant, unforgettable ballet.  It is inventive, playful, theatrical, incredibly entertaining, and beautifully performed by a world class company.

Seasoned ballet audiences will relish the mastery of Ballet Ireland’s dancers. Their impeccable technique and dramatic flair captivate even the most discerning audiences.

The joy and wonder of Nutcracker Sweeties will send audiences away with delighted smiles and full hearts.

Award-winning choreographer Morgann Runacre-Temple brings a modern interpretation to the staging and choreography of this traditional work while deftly and ingeniously adapting this Fairytale into a thoroughly Irish story:

In a famous Dublin department store, amidst the hustle and bustle of holiday shoppers, the magic of Nutcracker and Christmas intertwine, weaving a tale of wonder and joy. 

As Ciara and Fionn wander off from their parents, they are whisked away into a world of enchantment by the Nutcracker, brought to life in a dazzling display of magic.

Surrounded by a glorious blizzard of snowflakes, they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy, who leads them into the kingdom of sweets, where the beautiful Christmas windows come to life before their eyes. 

Creative Team

Choreography: Morgann Runacre-Temple 
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky 
Additional music & sound composition: Tom Lane 
Set & Costume Design: Jack Scullion 
Lighting Design: Eoin Lennon 

“This is a treat of a show, full of Christmas cheer. The department store here becomes a sacred space of transformation, an enclosed world dedicated entirely to dance, where cares and troubles are chased away like the rats in Act 1.” 
The Independent 

This will be the fourth time that EY Ireland has partnered with Ballet Ireland to enable a national tour of an iconic ballet performance. In 2024 11 cities and towns across the island of Ireland will have opportunity to see a performance of the Nutcracker Sweeties.

Anne Maher, Director, Ballet Ireland said:

‘We are delighted to renew our partnership with EY Ireland for this tour of Nutcracker Sweeties. Their invaluable support helps us to create a greater awareness of Ballet Ireland’s work and to expand our audience reach. In fulfilling our remit as Ireland’s only Arts Council funded ballet company, the tour is an opportunity to re-connect with ballet lovers around the country presenting modern day ballet for our audiences of today.’

Speaking about EY Ireland’s continuing sponsorship of the Ballet Ireland programme, Niamh O’Beirne, EY Ireland Partner and Head People, commented:

“EY Ireland is proud to once again partner with Ballet Ireland, to enable this tour of Nutcracker Sweeties across the island of Ireland. Our partnership is rooted in a shared vision of making the arts accessible, so that they can be appreciated and enjoyed by all. The arts community plays a key role in our cultural landscape, and we are really pleased to be able to support Ballet Ireland’s festive tour of Nutcracker Sweeties.”

Nutcracker Sweeties Tour Venues & Dates:

Theatre at The Mill, Newtownabbey

Sat 2 Nov 7.45pm & Sun 3 Nov 2pm

Tickets: £24/ £21 (concession)

Booking: theatreatthemill.com

028 9034 020

Town Hall Theatre, Galway  

Fri 8 and Sat 9 Nov 8pm

Tickets: €27* / €25* concession

Booking: tht.ie

091 569777

*All Tickets Are Subject to THT Booking & Development Fee €1/Ticket

Gaiety Theatre, Dublin 

Wed 13 - Sat 16 Nov 2024 | 7.30pm Nightly / 2.30pm Sat Mat |

Tickets from €13.50*

Booking: gaietytheatre.ie

Gaiety Theatre Box Office: groups@gaietytheatre.com

*Additional booking fees may apply

Market Place Theatre, Armagh

Wed 20 Nov 8pm

Tickets:£25 & £23 (conc)+ £1 booking fee

Booking: marketplacearmagh.ticketsolve.com

03300 561 025

Solstice Arts Centre, Navan 

Fri 22nd Nov 8pm & Sat 23 Nov 2pm.

Tickets: €28/€25 concs family of 4 for €90.00

Booking: solsticeartscentre.ie

046 909 2300

Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick

Wed 27 & Thurs 28 Nov 7.30pm 

Tickets: €27 / €20 / €90 (family ticket x4)

Booking: limetreetheatre.ie

061 953 400

O’Reilly Theatre 

National Opera House, Wexford 

Sat 30 Nov, 7.30pm

Tickets: €30 / €25 concession / €20 child under 16 / €90 Family Ticket 

Booking: nationaloperahouse.ie

053 912 2144 

Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray

Tues 3 & Wed 4 Dec 7:30pm, Wed 4 Dec 3pm

Tickets: €31 full price, €26 concession and €104 for a family of 4.

Booking: mermaidartscentre.ie

01 272 4030

Draíocht, Blanchardstown  

Fri 6 & Sat 7 Dec 8 pm

Tickets: € 27/ €25 / € 18 for under 16’s

Booking:  draiocht.ie

01-885 2622 

glór, Ennis  

Tues 10 & Wed 11 Dec 7.30pm 

Tickets:  €27 Adult, €25 Concession, €20 Under 18s

Family tickets: €85 (2 Adults, 2 children) or (1 Adult, 3 children)

Booking: glor.ie

065 6843103

Siamsa Tíre, Tralee  

Fri 13 & Sat 14 Dec 7.30pm

Tickets:  €28/€25 concessions +€1.50 bf

Booking: siamsatire.com

066 712 3055

Ticket & Venue Info for all shows BalletIreland.ie

Ballet Ireland

Ballet Ireland presents both traditional full-length classics and new contemporary ballets which resonate with audiences of today. The originality of Ballet Ireland’s work and the calibre of dancers has attracted world renowned choreographers to work with the company including Christopher Bruce, Marguerite Donlon, Filipe Portugal and Morgann Runacre-Temple.

Established in 1998 the company performs in large scale theatres in Dublin and throughout the Island of Ireland. Touring affords the opportunity for our regional audiences to access and enjoy professional ballet and to inspire young and talented students all over Ireland.

Ballet Ireland receives strategic funding by the Arts Council of Ireland.

For further media information:

Stephanie Courtney /:Mobile: 087 390 0675 / Email: marketing@balletireland.ie