Review: The Nutcracker Noir (Protein Studios)

Review by Daz Gale

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As Christmas draws ever closer, attention turns to what to do for a special evening, be it a date, a present, an office party or just a night out for yourself. You could see a show, go for a nice meal, go out dancing or even partake in something extra festive such as ‘The Nutcracker’ - you really are spoilt for choice. If only there were an experience that combined elements from all of those to create one magical evening in itself. Can you see where I’m going with this? The Nutcracker Noir is here to answer your prayers, offering dinner, dancing, a show and a take on ‘The Nutcracker’ as you have never seen before, but would this ambitious offering deliver a cracking evening, or would it be simply nuts?

Though it stubbornly refuses to be pigeonholed into one category, The Nutcracker Noir is best described as an immersive dining experience, with a show in between courses, kind of in the same vein as Mamma Mia! The Party! only without any ABBA songs (though I’ll talk about the music in due course). A modern reimaging of the classic Christmas tale, we are welcomed into Club Noir for a very different take on their usual offering, thanks to a new choreographer making her debut. With a fierce critic there to review the show (not me - part of the actual story), a secret from the past and family drama to discover, it looks set to be a first performance like no other.

You may be able to fit the entire plot of the show on a post-it note, but that is exactly the point. The storyline is designed to complement the evening, rather than dominate it, and it is the creation and execution of all of the other elements that make this an astonishing affair. From the moment you walk into the building, before you have taken your seat inside Club Noir, you are immersed in the adventure, being whisked into multiple rooms to meet multiple characters, get an appetiser to the story that will be unfolding, and your first taste of the whimsical world they are in. I have been to a few experiences like this before, and this was done impeccably, with each performer expertly reacting and interacting while never breaking character.

It is the way these characters continue interacting with you once you have taken your seat that takes The Nutcracker Noir to the next level. With the cast circling the space when they are mot on stage, you usually don’t have to go more than a couple of minutes before another one has approached your table - if you are lucky, you get two at once and get to witness an extra bit of acting and drama in what feels like a private show. The way this world has been created is second to none, with each character being given clear notes and direction on how to act, and each cast member having a profound understanding of their character and experts in the field of improvisation to mean they are never phased and are able to go with the flow in humorous and impressive ways.

With one of the plotlines being the harsh critic Madame Zel (or Jessica Alonso in real life) determined to give that show a bad review, I couldn’t resist revealing that I was a “critic” (debatable, I know) as well, resulting in some hilarious interactions, and her continuing to come back to me throughout the night to reveal her true feelings. Spoiler alert: She was won over, and how could she not be? Even the toughest of critics wouldn’t fail to be won over by this wonderful experience.

The cast are all incredible in their own right, with some established performers from the West End gathered to bring this experience to life. Cabaret star Nic Myers is rather fittingly the Emcee of sorts as Rox, with Christopher Howell exceptional in the mystical and mysterious character of Eldar, and Anita Nicole exceptionally charismatic as Clara. David-Michael Johnson has a great presence as club owner, George, with Jairus McClanahan anther standout as Frank.

These performers are put through their paces through some jaw-dropping sequences, with stunning choreography from dance captain and cast member Alex Codd alongside Lauren Gore. Gabrielle Williams’ direction ensures the performances always go off without a hitch, with Rob Jones’ gorgeous costume and wig designs making the cast always seem fabulous. I remarked to my friend how the outfits felt like something you would see members of the Capitol wearing at The Hunger Games, and how much stronger these costumes were as opposed to the stage production that is currently playing in Canary Wharf. Madame Zel in particular had a touch of Effie Trinket to her - perhaps that could be in sensational actor Jessica Alonso’s future?

While the iconic ‘Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy’ is, of course, heard in the evening, The Nutcracker Noir opts to go far more leftfield and unexpected with their song choices. This is clear to see from Lady Gaga opening number ‘Abracadabra’, with Muse’s ‘Supermassive Black Hole’ perhaps the most surprising but welcome inclusion. Many numbers are presented in clever mash-ups, all original, even if it does feel a bit Glee at times (though I mean that as a compliment). A bit of musical theatre can be heard with Anita Nicole tackling ‘Home’ from The Wiz, while there is also a smattering of Christmas songs to be heard along the way. The party continues long after the show concludes, with the audience encouraged to get on their feet and dance the night away while DJ Enzo (Safeena Ladha) plays some feel-good favourites.

An inspired touch is teasing the food you are about to eat and making it part of the story. With Clara bringing a new story to the stage for the first time, each course is preceded by a couple of musical numbers, and the reasoning behind the meal you are going to eat. Slightly tenuous, of course, but it works. The food itself is among some of the nicest I have ever eaten, with a five-course meal of incredible quality, particularly the stunning and sumptuous main. I always say theatre is a feast for the senses, and The Nutcracker Noir literally is exactly that, offering the sense of taste in both the show itself, and the five courses of beautiful food I couldn’t recommend enough.

The other element of The Nutcracker Noir that proved a standout is the design itself. Designed by Attila Keskin, the vast cavern of Protein studios in Shoreditch has been transformed into this stylish club, with great thought going into the various immersive rooms and the club setting itself. With faultless design, it manages to resemble a fine-dining restaurant with a sense of luxury as well as giving a sense of magic and wonder, representative of the world of characters here. Adorned with Christmas trees and festive decorations, it really gets you into the spirit of things, though the club setting itself is stunning enough that I would like to see it stay all year round, offering differing themed shows, all set in Club Noir.

On the day I visited The Nutcracker Noir, I had come from another immersive experience, with the first one a great example of what not to do, and the mistakes an immersive show can make to prevent its success. The Nutcracker Noir did the exact opposite. This is the perfect example of how to get an immersive experience so meticulously right. Call it dinner-theatre or immersive dining, every element of this production complements the other, from the design, direction, music, performances and food itself, and I found myself wowed throughout. Crucially, it can be said your enjoyment of any immersive show is down to you and your own participation - I don’t think that would be the case here. Though I gladly got involved in talking to the characters, those who would rather sit back and watch would lose nothing from the experience - such is the magical and wondrous nature of this creation. Flawless in every sense, this really is the gold standard in how to do an immersive experience, and dare I say the best night out you can have in London this Christmas?

The Nutcracker Noir plays at Protein Studios until 21st December. Tickets from £48 at https://nutcracker-noir.co.uk/