"The Nutcracker" by Northern Ballet.

Nottingham Theatre Royal.

It really does feel like Christmas is just around the corner with this gorgeous ballet performed by the Northern Ballet with music by Tchaikovsky.

A friend said that they would not see a ballet because there are no words and they would not be able to understand it. What rubbish. These dancers are not only incredible dancers but they are wonderful actors as well. They tell the story through dance and acting. Who needs words when they are such fantastic story tellers.

Seeing ballet on stage is one of the most wonderful, enjoyable and relaxing art forms that everyone should experience ballet at some time.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, these dancers are athletes as they make their dance colleagues seem as if they fly through the air. There is one section where two male dancers are topless and you can see the muscle in their backs. You have to be at your physical peak to make ballet look as effortless as these artists do.

Anyway, here's a quick insight to "The Nutcracker"...

Twas the night before Christmas and the Edwards family are preparing for their Christmas party, Clara imagines the wonderful things that might happen. Her brother Frederick can’t miss a moment to tease her and is only stopped by the arrival of their older sister, Louise.

There's lots of dancing and as the jollification builds, Uncle Drosselmeyer arrives with a huge box, out of which come two sets of life-sized dancing dolls. This is not the only treat he has in store and he presents Clara and Frederick with a strange wooden soldier doll.

Clara is in awe of the little wooden man and is even more surprised when Uncle Drosselmeyer reveals the doll’s ability to crack nuts! Frederick quickly becomes jealous, a tussle follows and soon the doll lies broken on the floor. Her Uncle manages to repair the doll, the party ends and Clara leaves her Nutcracker by the tree before going to bed. Unseen, Drosselmeyer remains behind and casts his magic…

Rachael Gillespie (Clara), Saeka Shirai (Louise/Sugar Plum Fairy), Fillipo di Viliio (Frederock), Mlindi Kulashe (Uncle Drosselmeyer), Bruno Serraclara (The Mouse King), Jonathan Hanks (James/The Cavalier), Harris Beattie (The Nutcracker), Sean Bates (Mr Edwards) and Abigail Prudames (Mrs Edwards) are the main dancers but there are so many incredibly talented dancers that bring this dream alive. There are also a group of young dancers on show from Gedling Ballet School along with the Principals and Soloists and other dancers.

Musical Director, Jonathan Lo, conducted this wonderful orchestra, and there is nothing better than hearing a full orchestra play some of the most beautiful music written. Some audience members noted that there were more recognisable pieces in "The Nutcracker Suite" than they had realised. So true.

The wonderful set design is by Charles Cusick Smith and has everything you'll ever want from a classy pantomime set. There's loads of glitter and snow and forest scenes and a wonderful "Royal" box, a gorgeous Christmas Tree in a sumptuously decorated room and so much more.

Costume Design, with assistance by Christopher Dudgeon, Choreographer and Director is David Nixon CBE. There's a reason why David has been acknowledged with a CBE this year, and the proof of that acknowledgement can be seen on the stage.

It's like watching live Disney before your very eyes. It's magical. Was this all really a dream had by Clara or was it true? Well, it really is true; this production is an absolute dream to behold.

The review is not the longest, but that takes nothing away from this production. You wouldn't praise every cog in a machine that works perfectly, you just praise the beauty of the machine, and that is what Northern Ballet, and this production is like; a perfectly running machine with many cogs that make everything work.

If you've never seen a ballet before, go see it. Take your kids to see it. Take your parents and Grandparents to see it because there is something for absolutely everyone in this Christmas aperitif, complete with a cherry on the top.

"The Nutcracker" is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 19 November.