The event, especially for families, will feature Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Children’s Ballet for children aged 3-10 years. This colourful, interactive workshop, using themes from The Nutcracker, will include story guides, movement and a rare chance to try on the costumes of some of the favourite characters from the ballet.

A lecture demonstration introduction to the story of The Nutcracker will also take place and will feature two of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s world class dancers performing the Sugar Plum and Prince pas de deux live, followed by a meet and greet and walk about.

The Nutcracker, famed for its magnificent sets and costumes, takes place on Christmas Eve in the Victorian setting of Clara’s family home. As midnight strikes, the magical Christmas tree grows and grows, Clara’s nutcracker doll and his army of toy soldiers come to life, and Clara is swept away into a fantasy adventure through an enchanting winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes to the magical kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The Nutcracker was gifted to the people of Birmingham in 1990 by the then artistic director Sir Peter Wright, a thank you for making the company welcome when it moved from London, and has been performed almost every Christmas since.

Tom Rogers, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Creative Content Producer, and former-First Soloist said: “Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker belongs to the City of Birmingham. It is important that we find ways to make sure it can be seen and enjoyed by the whole city. We are therefore delighted to be partnering once again with Birmingham Hippodrome to bring this exciting free event to the Bullring. It will offer families the chance to meet our world-class dancers and staff and find out more about the story of The Nutcracker which has now been seen by over a million people around the world and is a festive favourite in our hometown. We look forward to seeing everyone on 12th November.”

The event will open on Saturday 12th November, ground floor, Bullring and activities will run from 2pm-5pm. Free to participants. Please note that as space is limited access to the event will be on a first come first served basis.