Toymaker Dr Coppélius (Gary Avis) seems to have a beautiful young womaninhishouse:Coppélia (AshleyDean),whositsandreadsonhis balcony. Franz (Vadim Muntagirov) and his fellow young villagers are curious about her and how she ignores them all. Franz’s fiancée Swanilda (Marianela Nuñez) is not pleased by Franz’s interest inanother woman, but equally curious. When Dr Coppélius goes to the local tavern, the young villagers slip into his house to introduce themselves to the strangely silent young woman but are met with a house full of mechanical dolls and, seemingly, magic…

A classic returns to The Royal Ballet repertory with Ninette de Valois’ charming and funny Coppélia – a story of love, mischief and mechanical dolls. The intricate choreography is set to Delibes’ delightful score and shows off the technical precision and comedic timing of the whole Company. Osbert Lancaster’s designs bringacolourful storybook world to life in this Christmas treat for the whole family.