Five Holiday Classics to watch on Marquee TV

Nothing gets you in the holiday spirit quite like a great performance. Whether it’s the soaring melodies of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, the glitz and glamour of The Nutcracker, or the heartfelt story of  A Christmas Carol, these classic holiday performances remind us why the arts are such an essential part of the season: they bring people together through the magic of wonder, joy, and reflection. 

During this holiday season, unwrap a lineup of holiday performances, from glittering ballets to Shakespearean comedies and modern masterpieces that reimagine festive tradition. These five productions are filled with warmth, humor, and heart that you can watch from anywhere on Marquee TV. 

A Christmas Carol: Ghost Story 

No holiday season feels complete without a retelling of Dickens’s beloved festive classic, A Christmas Carol. This wonderfully atmospheric adaptation from Sherlock’s Mark Gatiss turns up the ghostly drama of the familiar tale for a spooky yet heartwarming take on the holiday tale. On a frigid Christmas Eve, the cold-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge is confronted by the tormented ghost of his former associate Jacob Marley, who warns him of his grim fate. But, redemption just might be possible if Scrooge can face three more spirits before dawn and change his selfish ways. 

Filmed live at London’s Alexandra Palace Theatre, this production from Nottingham Playhouse perfectly captures the damp, candlelit, Victorian world of Dickens while incorporating thrilling contemporary theatrical effects. Director Adam Penford leans into the supernatural with inventive puppetry, striking projections, and ghostly illusions that will send shivers down your spine.  

Please note: This title is only available in the US 

 

Christmas Oratorio – Hamburg Ballet 

John Neumeier’s Christmas Oratorio is a moving combination of dance and devotion. Set to J.S. Bach’s majestic score, this piece is a celebration of hope, faith, and shared humanity. Choreographed for the Hamburg Ballet, Neumeier’s choreography captures the emotional power of the Christmas story through expressive movement and theatrical storytelling.

The piece reimagines Bach’s timeless cantatas as scenes from Christmas, New Year’s, and Epiphany, taking you on an uplifting journey of love, doubt, and renewal. Profound yet uplifting, this is an unforgettable festive favorite that speaks to the universal spirit of the season. 

 

Much Ado About Nothing or Love’s Labour’s Won 

A sparkling winter romance with a wartime twist, Christopher Luscombe’s Love’s Labour’s Won reimagines Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing in the aftermath of the First World War, a world ready to dance, flirt, and heal again. Set against the glittering backdrop of a 1918 Christmas house party (complete with a giant jazzy Christmas tree for Benedick to hide behind), this production captures the ache of recovery and the joy of rediscovery as soldiers return home from the trenches. 

Edward Bennett’s charming, bumbling Benedick and Michelle Terry’s razor-sharp Beatrice exchange cutting remarks and longing glances amid masked balls and holiday mischief, while Claudio and Hero fall headfirst into young love. Simon Higlett’s clever set captures the lush elegance of an English country estate, Nigel Hess’s original music gives a clever nod to Noël Coward and Cole Porter. This is a wonderfully heartwarming world ripe for a little Christmas romance. 

 

The Nutcracker 

The Holiday Season simply wouldn’t be complete without a production of The Nutcracker, and on Marquee TV, we’re spoiled for choice. See the Royal Ballet’s iconic London staging by Sir Peter Wright, starring Anna Rose O’Sullivan as a radiant Clara and Marianela Nuñez and Vadim Muntagirov bringing regal grace to the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince. Or see the Australian Ballet’s enchanting production where Wright’s beloved choreography shines in every pirouette and pas de deux. You can’t miss the incredible performances by Madeleine Eastoe and Kevin Jackson as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Prince; they were made to dance together. 

Or step into George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker with New York City Ballet, a sparkling and quintessentially American take on Tchaikovsky’s timeless score. Filled with dazzling snowflakes, toy soldiers, and a Sugar Plum Fairy (Megan Fairchild) who seems to float on air. Whether you prefer the Victorian elegance of Wright’s production or the dazzle of Balanchine’s production, each Nutcracker offers an irresistible journey through the land of sweets with an extra dash of holiday magic. 

Learn more about The Nutcracker in our article Why is The Nutcracker So Famous?

 

Nureyev’s Swan Lake 

Another cornerstone of the holiday season, Swan Lake is a timeless classic that never ceases to dazzle. This nostalgic production from 1964 has an extra layer of timeless beauty. Rudolf Nureyev’s legendary interpretation of Swan Lake for the Vienna State Ballet is a beautifully romantic production that captures the magic of Tchaikovsky’s music and honors the original piece while adding a little extra oomph for the role of the Prince. 

With Dame Margot Fonteyn as his partner, Nureyev reimagined Swan Lake as not just Odette’s story, but also Prince Siegfried’s, deepening the heart of the ballet as a portrait of love, longing, and destiny. Sixty years later, this nostalgic production still glows with that undeniable holiday warmth.  

 

Whether you love the romantic story of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, the playful sparkle of The Nutcracker, or the heartfelt humanity of A Christmas Carol, the holidays are the perfect time to cozy up to a classic. So pour something festive, put on your comfiest clothes, and settle in for some festive favorites on Marquee TV.