Matthew Bourne's delightful adaptation of the classic Tim Burton motion picture is a treat for all the family. Featuring the beautiful and unmistakable soundtrack by Danny Elfman, this touching and witty gothic fairytale tells the story of a boy created by a lonely inventor who dies leaving him alone and unfinished. Left with only scissors for hands, Edward struggles to find his place in a strange new suburban world where the well-meaning community struggle to see past his strange appearance to the innocence and gentleness within. After global success with his inspired interpretations of The Car Man, Nutcracker!, Highland Fling and the multi award-winning Swan Lake and Play Without Words, Matthew Bourne has also enjoyed unprecedented success with his work in the hit musical, Mary Poppins, also coming to Birmingham this summer. Matinee performances on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm. (back to top)

The talented National Youth Ballet of Great Britain celebrates its 21st anniversary season with a return visit to Birmingham Hippodrome. The dazzling bill will be topped by the acclaimed ballet ‘The Old Man of Lochnagar’ inspired by the book written by HRH The Prince of Wales, fabulous score by Bafta winning composer, Nigel Hess and choreographed by Birmingham’s rising star, Drew McOnie.  (back to top)

At Birmingham Hippodrome. At Clara’s family’s Christmas party, mysterious things start to happen and later that evening she begins a journey to a magical land. It is Christmas Eve. Clara and her family are busy putting the finishing touches to their tree and preparing for a family party. Guests begin to arrive including Herr Drosselmeyer, a magician and toymaker who gives gifts to all the children. Clara is given a beautiful Nutcracker doll. As the party ends, Clara and her brother are sent upstairs to bed but when the house is quiet she sneaks back down to find her nutcracker doll. As the clock strikes midnight an amazing transformation takes place and nothing is quite as it seems. Clara and her Nutcracker Prince must battle with King Rat and his army and, once they have beaten him, Clara is transported on a magical journey that she will never forget. Magical scenery, including an amazing transformation and a giant flying snow goose. Undoubtedly the best production of The Nutcracker in the UK. The perfect ballet to become part of your Christmas tradition. Saturday matinee performances at 2.30pm, Sunday matinee performances at 12.30pm & Tuesday and Thursdau matinee performances at 2pm. No performances on Mondays .  (back to top)

When the marital strife between Count Guccioli and his wife threatens to disrupt their anniversary celebration, the Count’s infidelities endanger the burgeoning love between Amyntas and Sylvia, their servants. It is left to the God of Love, Eros (in disguise as a gardener), to reconcile their differences as he takes them, and us, back to the age of mythical Rome in order to teach them all a lesson about Love. David Bintley’s time-hopping comedy features music by Léo Delibes, the composer of Coppélia, and a colourful cast of Gods and Goddesses, slave girls and pirates in this eagerly anticipated revival. David Bintley brings his unrivalled comic talent to this new version of a classic ballet. Tchaikovsky wrote of Delibes’ score, that his own music for Swan Lake was 'poor stuff' in comparision. Matinee performance on Saturday at 2.30pm.  (back to top)

Three captivating ballets, Serenade, Enigma Variations, ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Cafe, each inspired by their score. Probably the one chance you’ll ever get to see Edward Elgar and a morris-dancing flea on stage in the same evening! George Balanchine is one of the greatest choreographers of the 20th century. In making Serenade, he went to great lengths to say that although there isn’t an underlying story to this ballet, it is a beautiful visual accompaniment to Tchaikovsky’s music. The music at the heart of Enigma Variations, meanwhile, had already proved to be Edward Elgar’s springboard to international fame, containing such notable pieces as the majestic 'Nimrod'. The piece is a series of tender musical sketches of Elgar's friends and Ashton's ballet picks up this idea and gives new life to each character. Simon Jeffes and his Penguin Café Orchestra provided David Bintley’s inspiration for 'Still Life' at the Penguin Café, his witty and poignant look at man’s effect on the world around him. A morris-dancing flea, a ballroom-dancing ram, a sleepy rat and a woolly monkey are among the animals featured! Matinee performance on Saturday at 2.30pm.  (back to top)

David Bintley once again pays tribute to two of the true masters of ballet – Frederick Ashton and George Balanchine. The Two Pigeons is a gentle story of young love. Tempted to stray from his idyllic life, a young artist is desperate to stretch his wings and when a band of gypsies arrives he follows them to their camp. His fiancée is left to pine for her missing companion. But as in all good stories, the young man realises his mistake and returns to his true love. With its extraordinary finale that includes two live pigeons on stage, Frederick Ashton’s gentle love story often takes your breath away, but always speaks to the heart. These are the Company’s first performances of the ballet since its triumphant sell-out performances in New York. George Balanchine’s Mozartiana is a sparkling piece of pure classical dance to similarly effervescent music from the great ballet composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Created in 1981 towards the end of Balanchine’s career, this is clearly the work of a master of his art, who truly deserves the accolade 'father of American ballet'. Tickets on sale from Monday 16th June at 9pm. Matinee performance on Thursday at 2pm & Saturday at 2.30pm.  (back to top)

Two ballets by David Bintley accompany a classic from Frederick Ashton. The classical perfection of Mozart's music is mirrored in David Bintley’s elegant choreography for Galanteries. This ballet is pure entertainment – a melding of beautiful, unpretentious music and dance. Taking inspiration from a medieval poem and woodcut depicting the 'Danse macabre', Bintley's The Dance House was prompted by the early death of a friend and colleague who was a dancer. Combining the choreographer’s interest in exploring the metaphor of the ‘dance of death’ with his desire to pay nostalgic tribute to his friend’s often anarchic sense of humour, the piece fits perfectly with Shostakovich’s seemingly untameable score. For The Dream, Frederick Ashton took one of Shakespeare's funniest plays and the music it famously inspired to create this touching yet hilarious ballet. It takes the story of Oberon and Titania, who argue over a changeling boy. Oberon drips a potion into Titania's eyes causing her to fall in love with the first person she sees. Adding to the mayhem are four young lovers, fleeing from nearby Athens. Matinee performance on Saturday at 2.30pm.  (back to top)