This Sunday and the following, the Fugard Theatre Bioscope, in association with The Royal Opera House will screen The Royal Ballet's ever popular Christmas classic, The Nutcracker, as part of their hugely successful World Opera and Ballet Season.

From the very first notes of Tchaikovsky’s overture to The Nutcracker, played by the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and conducted by Koen Kessels, a sense of mystery and magic pervades the theatre as Herr Drosselmeyer (Gary Avis) sets in train the events that will see his beloved nephew, Hans Peter (Ricardo Cervera), freed from the enchantment of the evil Mouse King by the resourceful Clara. The ballet, choreographed by Peter Wright after Lev Ivanov, unfolds over two acts.

For Act I it is Christmas Eve and the audience are brought to a party at which Drosselmeyer gives young Clara (Iohna Loots) a nutcracker doll – beginning a night that includes a magically growing Christmas tree, a midnight battle of toy soldiers at which the Nutcracker defeats the villainous Mouse King and his army of mice, and a headlong pas de deux in which Clara and Hans Peter meet and celebrate their triumph before being enveloped in a magical snowstorm. Act II whisks the young pair off to the Kingdom of the Sweets, where they are entertained by the Sugar Plum Fairy (Miyako Yoshida) with her handsome Prince (Steven McRae) and her glittering court in a series of dazzling dances. Peter Wright’s classic production, first seen at Covent Garden in 1984, is an essential part of Christmas for audiences of all ages.

In 2011 the Fugard Theatre, in the heart of District 6, was furnished with state-of-the-art Digital Cinema and Surround Sound equipment to transform the theatre into a magnificent Bioscope when required. The World Opera and Ballet screenings are presented in full high definition, with 5.1 digital Dolby surround sound. To date, iconic ballets and operas have been screened to large audiences, featuring some of the biggest stars in the Opera and Ballet world.

The Nutcracker will have two screenings daily at 14:00 and 16h00 on Sunday, 9 and Sunday, 16 December with tickets at R100 per person. Friends of the Fugard benefit from generous discounts through the theatre’s box office. Bookings are via Computicket and the Fugard TheatreBox Office 021 461 4554. There is secure parking in the Harrington Street car park located at the corner of Caledon and Harrington streets and is available for the use of theatre patrons.

The 280-seater Fugard Theatre is located within the historic Sacks Futeran building in Cape Town’s District 6, with the renovated Congregational Church Hall in Caledon Street as its entrance. Construction of The Fugard Theatre was underwritten by its founding producer Eric Abraham, and is named in honour of Athol Fugard, South Africa’s greatest playwright.

The Fugard Theatre will shortly announce their exciting 2013 World Opera and Ballet Season and patrons can look forward to an extended slate of recorded presentations from around the world.