The Nutcracker Noir immersive dining experience to open this November

Photo: Matt Crockett

This Christmas, globally-acclaimed scene makers DesignScene and immersive storytellers Secret Theatre will present The Nutcracker Noir - a brand-new immersive dining experience and modern reimagining of the classic Christmas tale that promises to be THE festive dining show of the season.

Transforming Protein Studios in the heart of Shoreditch into a festive extravaganza for a limited time (26th November to 21st December 2025), this immersive dining experience combines world-class performances, mischief and theatrical storytelling with decadent dishes from immersive dining specialist Jenny McNeill at Feast & Fable (Gingerline, Fat Duck).

Inspired by Tchaikovsky’s 1892 ballet, this dazzling show follows the story of an orphan raised in a fantastical world, Clara, as she searches for her long-lost father and somehow ends up directing her own wild adaptation of The Nutcracker in her quest to save her father’s theatre.

Through striking immersive design and next-level storytelling, guests will be taken on an otherworldly adventure as they make their way through five interactive spaces filled with captivating performances, hidden surprises and extraordinary characters – think secret spaces, Christmas bodegas, fantasy elves and a journey to the North Pole – all preparing them for the incredible night ahead as they emerge into the spectacularly grand theatre for the main show.

The Nutcracker Noir features a truly exceptional cast, showcasing some of the brightest talent fresh from London’s West End. Anita Nicole (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Amazon Prime) takes centre stage as Clara, joined by Jairus McClanahan (Hamilton) as her younger brother Frank Zane, and Patrick Wilden (Cabaret, Stage Door) as Jazz, Frank’s best friend and a fellow lost boy.

Photo: Matt Crockett

The cast also includes a stellar lineup of immersive and musical theatre performers: Christopher Howell (Punchdrunk) as Elf Eldar, Jessica Alonso (Pelotas, Vampire Virus, Art of Dying - Hong Kong, The Great Gatsby - Madrid) as Madame Zel, a theatre critic who plays a key role in the show’s direction, and Shoko Ito (Wicked, Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker) as Clara’s best friend, Angie. David-Michael Johnson (The Bodyguard, Starlight Express and Dirty Dancing) appears as Clara’s long-lost father, and Alex Codd - renowned for his work as Assistant Choreographer to Gary Lloyd on Rehab and most recently as choreographer on Beauty and the Beast - joins the story as a mysterious outsider whom Clara entrusts to help bring the Nutcracker to life.

Photo: Matt Crockett

Rounding out the ensemble, Tianna Sealy-Jewiss (BOMBAY SUPERSTAR, Rock of Ages, Cross Roads) plays Future, a phenomenal dancer who has lost their way and finds renewed inspiration through Clara. Phoebe Coray (Celebrity Cruises, Sex Education on Netflix, War 2, The Collection on Amazon Prime) plays Flow, a wild Welsh talent who caught Clara’s eye as London's most fantastic specialist performer.

Finally, Safeena Ladha (39 Steps - West-End and UK tour, The Great Gatsby, Immersive Everywhere; Dracula - A Comedy of Terrors) steps into the role of Saffy the Deck Slayer, blending movie quotes, game sounds and pop culture references between nostalgic tunes to create her signature DJ style.

Entertained at every turn, The Nutcracker Noir promises to be the ultimate Christmas dining experience. Filled with fun, frivolity and flamboyance, the experience allows guests to be as involved in the storyline as they like – whether they want to be at the heart of the action or prefer to sit back and take it all in.

Together, this dynamic ensemble will deliver soaring vocals, powerful drama, and a touch of mystery, elevating the immersive Christmas dining experience to extraordinary new heights.

Adapted and co-directed by immersive pioneer Richard Crawford (SE7EN / The Great

Gatsby), co-directed and choreographed by Gary Lloyd (Thriller Live / Heathers) and co-produced by Atilla Keskin, founder of DesignScene (Amazon MGM Studios, Apple, Pinterest and Bacardi), the production will feature some of the city’s finest talent.

Photos: Matt Crockett

Designed for groups who love the unexpected, twinned with a hint of the decadent, The Nutcracker Noir promises guests a seasonal experience like no other and is set to create a new standard for festive dining experiences. Showcasing a uniquely designed food and drink concept curated by leading immersive dining specialist Jenny McNeill’s Feast + Fable (Fat Duck, Gingerline), combined with original storytelling and a newly imagined world, it truly is the ultimate Christmas party.

The waitlist will open from 25th September, and tickets will be available to purchase during the general on-sale from 30th September 2025.

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The Nutcracker Noir will run at Protein Studios near Shoreditch High Street from 26th November to 21st December 2025. Tickets are priced from £48 for Bar Seating (Show Ticket) and £180 for a shared Club Table (inclusive of a three-course meal). VIP tickets range from £240 to £300 per person.

To sign up for the waitlist and find out more, visit nutcracker-noir.co.uk