Seneca Space welcomes visitors this Friday through January 7 with a family-friendly exhibition that blends sensory experiences with vivid visuals. The Magic of the Nutcracker brings together the timeless tale inspired by ETA Hoffmann, its artistic reinterpretation by Alexandre Dumas, and a luminous musical backdrop from Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet. The project features a version adapted specifically for this show by the Alicante Municipal Symphony Orchestra, creating a unique, immersive experience for audiences of all ages.
This exhibition bears the signature of Valeria Docampo, a renowned illustrator who specializes in children’s books. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Docampo studied Fine Arts before earning a Graphic Design and Visual Communication degree from the University of Buenos Aires, where she also taught. Her book Grande Fabrique de Mots has been translated into 30 languages. She currently resides in Lyon, France, and releases illustrated works with publishers across France, Belgium, Italy, the United States, and Latin America. Her illustrative career spans publishers on five continents, bringing a distinctive, globally resonant visual language to this presentation.
Alongside Valeria’s artistic contribution, the exhibition includes an in-house performance layer: the Alicante Municipal Symphony Orchestra reimagines Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker for this project. The experience is enhanced by in-room auditions accessible via QR codes. Before the ballet’s premiere, Tchaikovsky selected eight movements that comprise the Nutcracker Suite Op. 71a, adapted here for concert presentation. The orchestral arrangement heard in the accompanying audio recording was produced at the Alicante Municipal Symphony Orchestra headquarters in Las Cigarreras, as explained by the orchestra’s deputy director Pedro Navarrete.
During the exhibition, Nayma Beldjilali, a member of the Cultural Council, commented that the show was crafted specifically for the city. She emphasized that it offers the public a fresh perspective on how The Nutcracker has traveled across artistic disciplines for more than 250 years, evolving with each new adaptation and interpretation.
Dramatized reading with Alicante accents
The exhibit features dramatized readings delivered by well-known media voices from the city. The cast includes Luz Sigüenza from Cero, Carlos Arcaya from Cadena SER, Denis Rodríguez from COPE, and Cristina Martinez, along with Juan Gil-Albert, the director of the Alicante Cultural Institute. Eloísa Azorín, a prominent voice actress with experience at the Cervantes Institute, and Vanessa Reyes, a veteran radio professional, contribute their talents to the experience. Texts are available for download via QR code from the City Council website and through the exhibition venue. Daniel Terol is noted as the project’s responsible editor for the texts. Coordinator Miquel Hernandis adds that the collaboration between radio, journalism, and performance enhances the Nutcracker’s enduring magic. He also highlights the band’s renewed musical interpretation as part of this adaptation, underscoring how a 19th‑century German tale remains vibrant today through contemporary storytelling and performance.
Historical roots
The Nutcracker story begins more than two centuries ago in Berlin with Amadeus Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. It follows a girl who receives Christmas gifts and journeys into a fantastical realm. Hoffmann’s tale became a foundational text for a narrative arc that French author Alexandre Dumas helped translate and adapt, eventually evolving into the cherished ballet set to Tchaikovsky’s music. The tale reached Spain at the end of the 19th century, with Hermenegildo Giner de los Ríos among the early translators and adapters. In recent years, Argentinian illustrator Valeria Docampo’s 2018 edition — inspired by productions such as the New York City Ballet — has introduced the Nutcracker to new audiences. This exhibition brings that illustrated world into direct contact with Alicante’s Municipal Symphony Orchestra, inviting visitors to experience the story through music and spoken word, augmented by QR-enabled interaction that deepens the audience’s connection to the performance.