THE Royal Ballet’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker is coming to a Wrexham cinema as part of a season of live screened events dedicated to the arts.

The festive ballet classic on December 5 which tells the story of a young girl named Clara being whisked off for a magical adventure after creeping downstairs on Christmas Eve to play with her favourite present – an enchanted Nutcracker doll.

The ballet screening, danced to Tchaikovsky’s magnificent and much-loved score, headlines almost 30 performances of music, theatre, ballet and opera running until early summer 2018 at the Odeon in Wrexham’s Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre.

Known as Odeon’s Event Cinema, other live streamed events will include Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, live from the National Theatre in London, the New York Met Opera’s performance of La Boheme and the Bolshoi Ballet’s production of The Flames of Paris from the company’s home in Moscow.

Odeon Eagles Meadow Manager, Andy Elvis, said: “Tickets are selling fast for The Nutcracker which is always a popular live screening at this time of year. It’s the perfect start to the Christmas season.

“This particular performance will be screened live from The Royal Ballet’s home – The Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden – and this always adds to the sense of occasion and atmosphere.

“We have a fantastic programme of music, theatre, ballet and opera performances planned in for the next six or seven months, from around the globe, and it is such a great and alternative way to enjoy some of the most acclaimed arts performances without having to travel very far.”

Choreographer and Director Peter Wright is one of the most eminent names in ballet and is the man behind the production of The Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker.

A former dancer himself, he created his first ballet, A Blue Rose, for Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet in 1957. He is President of the Benesh Institute, a Vice-President of the Royal Academy of Dance and Patron of the London Ballet Circle. His version of The Nutcracker is regarded as one of the most enduring and enchanting.

With its festive period setting, dancing snowflakes and spell binding stage music, Lev Ivanov’s 1892 ballet has become the perfect Christmas entertainment with its beautiful music being arguably one of the most recognisable of all ballet scores.

Kevin Critchley, Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre Manager, said: “The Nutcracker ballet screening will be just one of many things which people can look forward to for the festive season at Eagles Meadow.

“With our great range of shops and leisure, including big high street names such as Marks & Spencer, Next and Debenhams, delicious eateries including Pizza Express and Nandos, a bowling alley and a cinema, we are a great place to head for during the build-up to Christmas.

“The programme of live screenings dedicated to some of the world’s most respected arts performances adds something really special to what we have on offer at Eagles Meadow and I would encourage shoppers to drop in and view what is coming up both now and in to the new year.”

To find out more about Odeon’s Event Cinema productions, go to www.odeon.co.uk/eventcinema Or drop in to see the team at the Eagles Meadow Odeon.