THE Times is offering readers the chance to win tickets to a magical production.

Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! follows last year’s hugely successful production of Cinderella at The Bristol Hippodrome.

This delicious theatrical feast has family-sized helpings of Matthew Bourne’s trademark wit, pathos and magical fantasy.

Nutcracker! follows Clara’s bittersweet journey from a hilariously-bleak Christmas Eve at Dr Dross’ Orphanage, through a shimmering, ice-skating winter wonderland to the scrumptious candy kingdom of Sweetieland.

Tchaikovsky’s glorious score and Anthony Ward’s delicious sets and costumes combine with sizzling choreography to create a fresh and charmingly irreverent interpretation of the traditional favourite.

Directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, it is co-devised by Martin Duncan, with lighting design by Howard Harrison and sound design by Paul Groothuis.

Matthew Bourne is widely hailed as the UK’s most popular and successful choreographer and director.

He is the creator of the world’s longest running ballet production, a five-time Olivier Award winner, and the only British director to have won the Tony Award for both best choreographer and best director of a musical.

The production will be staged at The Bristol Hippodrome from April 17-21.

Tickets, priced �15.50-39, are available via www.bristolhippodrome.org.uk

n The Times has teamed up with The Bristol Hippodrome to offer three lucky readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to the show at 7.30pm on April 17.

To enter answer the following question by 9am on April 11: Who choreographed and directed the production?

Send your answer, along with your name and daytime telephone number to: Nutcracker Competition, North Somerset Times, 32, Waterloo Street, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1LW. Alternatively click on the link at the top right of this story to enter.