More than anything, I hope they come with us on the journey.

"The set is there to serve the narrative. Every scenic choice has to help the audience understand how the story moves from one moment to the next.

Derek had very clear ideas about where the characters should fly, when those moments should happen and how those magical transitions should feel. My job as the designer is to make those ideas work theatrically.

One of the biggest questions we asked ourselves was: How do the characters actually travel through this world? In a narrative ballet, you can't simply change the scenery and expect the audience to accept it. You need to tell the story of how the characters move from one place to another.

So, in our version, we've created a clear journey. The story moves from the battle into the Land of Snow, and then the Snow Queen helps guide Clara onwards. She provides the sleigh that carries them into the magical Kingdom of Sweets. Each transition has a reason within the story, rather than simply being a change of scene.

That's how I think about set design. It's not just creating beautiful pictures, it helps the audience understand the journey. Every piece of scenery exists because it moves the narrative forward and makes the world feel believable."

- Set and Costume Designer, Lez Brothertson