Designer Brings the Story of The Nutcracker to Life at Blenheim Palace

Alnwick-based Clare Elliott and her assistant Mandy Bryson together with a small team of designers is transforming the interior of the 18^th century Baroque Oxfordshire Palace with a spectacular re-imagining of the classic Christmas tale of toys that come to life.

Clare, who is Senior Designer at Culture Creative, has spent the last 12 months in her workshop creating the magical world before transporting, and then painstakingly installing, it in the State Rooms of the UNESCO World Heritage Site ahead of its official unveiling on 19^th November.

“For us, it’s felt like Christmas since April as the workshop has been filled with giant nutcracker soldiers, gingerbread men, sugar plum fairies, candy canes, Christmas trees, oversized presents and angels,” she said.

“I have always loved the original 19^th Century short story by Hoffmann, which was the inspiration for Tchaikovsky’s hugely popular ballet, and so to have the opportunity to bring my own version to life was very exciting.

“The fact my ‘stage’ is the magnificent and historic interior of what’s often described as Britain’s greatest Palace makes it all the more special,” she added.

This will not be the first time Clare has had the daunting task of installing her creations among the priceless art and artefacts of the Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and the ancestral home of the Duke of Marlborough.

“This will be my third Christmas display at Blenheim Palace, having previously designed both Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella-themed interiors there,” she said.

“Although I am now quite familiar with the surroundings, it’s still a daunting experience and we will be working around the clock to ensure everything is installed and ready to welcome its first visitors on time,” she added.

Running until 3^nd January, the story of The Nutcracker is just part of a series of festive-themed experiences taking place at Blenheim Palace this winter.

Visitors can also explore the illuminated trail, highlighting England’s finest view with over a million lights, lasers, a host of amazing new features and seasonal sounds.

The family-friendly one-mile trail will be awash with colour, full of seasonal surprises and shimmering reflections that cast light on beautiful silhouettes of majestic trees.

There’s also the chance to soak up the yuletide atmosphere at the Christmas Market which runs from 19 November to 19 December and features traditional wooden chalets filled with a range of festive treats from designer-makers and artisan food and drink producers.

Tickets are selling fast, book now to avoid disappointment www.christmasatblenheim.seetickets.com

Christmas at Blenheim Palace is produced by leading events promoter Raymond Gubbay Limited, a division of Sony Music, in partnership with Blenheim Palace.  The story of The Nutcracker and the illuminated trail are created by Culture Creative Limited.

About Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace is the home of the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. This masterpiece of 18^thcentury Baroque architecture boasts over 300 years of history and is a World Heritage Site, surrounded by more than 2000 acres of ‘Capability Brown’ landscaped Parkland and Formal Gardens.

Not only an iconic part of history, Blenheim Palace is a living and changing experience with a wealth of events, themed tours and exhibitions throughout the year.

blenheimpalace.com | FB @BlenheimPalace | Twitter @BlenheimPalace

About Sony Music

Sony Music has been delivering illuminated Christmas trails for over eight years. Each trail is carefully designed to showcase the natural and unique environment of the individual location. There are currently 22 trails across the UK, Europe, USA, and Australia within the My Christmas Trails and Lightscape portfolios.

The chosen partners for national and international heritage and prestigious venues include: Blenheim Palace; The National Trust; Forestry England; The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh; Botanic Gardens, Chicago, USA and Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.

mychristmastrails.co.uk | FB @mychristmastrails | Twitter @mychristmastrails

About Culture Creative

Culture Creative is a creative project and production management company based in the North East of England. The Company works across a wide range of cultural fields including art, sport, heritage, tourism, festivals and events, developing projects from concept to delivery. Since 2013 Culture Creative has worked closely with Sony Music to create illuminated trails in various venues across the UK and overseas.

www.culturecreative.co.uk | FB @culturecreativeltd | Twitter @CCLCreative | Instagram @culturecreativeltd