West Australian Ballet has commissioned British designers Charles Cusick Smith and Phil R Daniels to create the costumes and sets for its brand new production of The Nutcracker, which is choreographed collaboratively by artistic director Aurelien Scannella, ballet mistress Sandy Delasalle and former principal dancer Jayne Smeulders.
Cusick Smith and Daniels have designed ballet and theatre productions for companies around the world, including the English National Ballet and Hong Kong Ballet. Their work is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Although a new production, WAB's 2016 Nutcracker will be a traditional version, set to the iconic Tchaikovsky score says Scannella. "I want the people to come in, sit down and feel like they're somewhere in Europe where it's very cold outside, it's snowing, the family's arriving, Christmas is starting.”
Enjoy browsing our gallery of Charles Cusick Smith and Phil R Daniels's costume design sketches above - click on the images to view them full-size. You can also take a peek inside the wardrobe of the production in the latest issue of Dance Australia, on sale now! Buy Dance Australia at your favourite magazine retailer or subscribe here, or purchase an online copy via the Dance Australia app.
All costume designs by Charles Cusick Smith and Phil R Daniels.