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)

Following the record-breaking success of Aladdin last Christmas, we are delighted to confirm that John Barrowman will be returning to the theatre in the brand new production of Robin Hood - The Pantomine Adventure. John Barrowman, currently starring in BBC2’s Torchwood as Captain Jack, was a massive hit with our audiences last Christmas, receiving glittering reviews and sell-out performances. Stuart Griffiths, Birmingham Hippodrome’s Chief Executive, said: “John is one of today’s most sought-after and versatile all-round entertainers and his immense talent and popularity contributed hugely to making Aladdin a box office record-breaker. Our 2008/09 production is a brand new pantomime and John is perfect for the role of Robin Hood – we’re delighted he has agreed to return to Birmingham!” John Barrowman commented: “I had a great time at Birmingham Hippodrome over Christmas and the new year. Everyone made me and the whole cast feel so welcome. I’m really looking forward to coming back. Robin Hood – The Pantomime Adventure is going to be a spectacular production, full of surprises and lots of sparkle. Don’t miss it!“ Further casting will be announced at a later date. Times of matinee performances and full listings available on our calander pages for December, January & February.  (back to top)

It's had the audience on their feet in every corner of the globe and now Buddy, "the world's most successful rock'n'roll musical," is back and ready to explode on to a stage near you! With a phenomenally talented cast, Buddy the Musical tells the story of Buddy Holly, presents his music and features some of Buddy's greatest hits including That'll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Oh Boy, Rave On, Heartbeat, Raining In My Heart and many more. This dazzling extravaganza will have the whole audience rocking and bopping in the aisles. Matinee performances on Wednesday at 2pm & Saturday at 2.30pm. Tickets on sale from Monday 8th September 2008.  (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)

Set against the backdrop of a travelling funfair and packed with dazzling stunt sequences, hilarious crafty cons and plenty of rock ‘n’ roll, All the Fun of the Fair is a brand new action-packed musical from legendary singer and songwriter David Essex and the creator of Boogie Nights, Jon Conway. Widower and funfair owner Levi Lee (David Essex) is struggling to fend off the unwelcome attentions of an alluring and attractive divorcee whilst trying to keep up with the ins and outs of his son’s tangled love life and lofty ambitions. And what is he to make of the dangerous predictions of the fair’s mysterious gypsy fortune teller, warning him about what the future has in store? Inspired by David’s debut album, this roller-coaster ride is underscored by a helter-skelter of hits such as Winter’s Tale, Hold Me Close, Gonna Make You A Star, Me and My Girl Nightclubbing, Silver Dream Machine and Rock On. So roll on up and buy your tickets now for this beautiful, modern musical love-story with a heartbreaking twist. Matinee performances on Wednesday at 2pm & Saturday at 2.30pm.  (back to top)

Pied Piper is a bold contemporary hip hop street dance interpretation of Robert Browning’s poem The Pied Piper of Hamelin. Pushing street dance to its outer limits, Pied Piper is an innovative, original and thrilling 90 minute dance piece. Pied Piper closely follows the structure of the Browning poem, however Boy Blue Entertainment has represented the two-fold morality tale in an edgy, contemporary style. In an unnamed modern urban setting the Rats become youths in black hoodies who are branded as “anti-social”. With Clown Governors of the city, the result is a satirical comment on the tabloid headlines . Saturday performances on at 5pm & 8.30pm.  (back to top)

Rambert Dance Company returns to Sadler's Wells with a breathtaking programme of three diverse works, which brilliantly demonstrates why it remains at the forefront of modern dance. Its dancers are the athletes of the theatre, equally capable of thrilling you with their incredible skill or sending a shiver of emotion down your spine. Continuing its 80-year tradition of mixing innovation with works from its illustrious past, this season the company is delighted to present the world premiere of a brand new work by stylish American choreographer, Karole Armitage. Gran Partita is set to four movements from Mozart's piece of the same name. This emotional and dramatic piece of dance captures Mozart's music in movement and is complemented by the scenery of Jean Marc Puissant and lighting by Giuseppe Di Iorio. Rambert will also bring the London premiere of a new work by Canadian choreographer André Gingras. Featuring his trademark athletic movement and acid post-modern wit, Gingras explores the idea of the human body as an exhibition site in this high-energy first collaboration with Rambert. Anatomica #3 features an original score from young, British composer Joseph Hyde and designs from former Rambert dancer, Fabrice Serafino. Tickets on sale from Monday 8th September 2008.  (back to top)

Based on the Warner Brothers motion picture starring Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer and Cher, the musical of The Witches of Eastwick is coming to Manchester, starring the sensational Marti Pellow as the devilish Daryl Van Horne. When three desperate housewives in mid-town America wish for the man of their dreams they get far more than they bargain for. All hell breaks loose - quite literally, with the arrival of Daryl Van Horne. After leading Wet Wet Wet to a plethora of multi-platinum singles and albums, peaking with Love Is All Around's 15 week stint at the top of the charts, Marti has gone on to a successful solo career as well as West End and Broadway seasons as Billy Flynn in the hit musical Chicago. The Witches of Eastwick marks Marti Pellow’s first musical in 5 years and is set to be the hottest ticket of 2008. Matinee performances on Wednesday at 2pm & on Saturday at 2.30pm. Tickets on sale from Monday 8th September 2008.  (back to top)

Bring the whole family to enjoy Scooby-Doo and friends in this live theatre production as the Mystery Inc. gang find themselves solving another mystery of supernatural ghosts wreaking havoc once again. This show, featuring a full size Mystery Machine, hilarious physical comedy, popular tunes and special effects, will appeal equally to parents who grew up watching the TV show and kids who have just discovered Scooby-Doo for the first time. It's Scooby-Doo and the gang at their finest and funniest. Live on stage and back in the UK by popular demand. Matinee performances on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday at 2.30pm, on Friday at 2pm & 5pm and Saturday 11am, 2pm & 5pm .  (back to top)

The major international hit musical direct from London and sell-out success in Paris, Tokyo and Beijing. With groundbreaking choreography by the legendary Jerome Robbins, book by Arthur Laurents, an unforgettable score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, West Side Story changed the face of musical theatre forever. Based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and packed with unforgettable songs including Maria, Tonight, Somewhere, America and I Feel Pretty. The movie version went on to win an incredible 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and further cemented the reputation of this undoubted masterpiece. Now in 2008, 50 years after the show made its London debut, Joey McKneely’s vibrant new stage production of the classic dance musical arrives after wild critical acclaim and sell-out success in Tokyo, Paris and Beijing. Based on a conception by Jerome Robbins. Entire original production directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins. Originally produced on Broadway by Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince by arrangement with Roger L. Stevens. Matinee performances on Wednesdays & Thursday 23rd at 2pm & Saturdays at 2.30pm.  (back to top)

Sir Charles Mackerras, WNO's Conductor Emeritus and former Music Director (1987 - 92), returns to the company to conduct this concert performance of Mozart's Italian opera seria (drama opera). Mitridate, rè di Ponto (Mitridates, King of Pontus), was commissioned for Carnival 1771. He was just 14 when he wrote this three-act opera but those who pre-judged his work harshly because of his youth were silenced by the first performance. Mitridate tells a serious story yet is full of musical vigour and charm. There are many beautiful surprises in this richly varied music, with heartbreaking arias as well as glittering orchestration and florid vocal lines. Reminiscent of the ornate operas of the baroque, in its finest moments, Mitridate also foreshadows Mozart's later operatic masterpieces. Mitridate, the King of Pontus who long defended his empire against the Romans, and his son Farnace are real historical characters, but the plot - in which loyalties are tested in love and in war - is fiction. In Welsh National Opera's concert performance the music will speak for itself - freeing your imagination to be suggestible to the power and passion of the work.  (back to top)

An operatic masterpiece and one of Tchaikovsky's greatest works, The Queen of Spades was written in just 44 days. The Queen of Spades is based on Alexander Pushkin's novella, a short masterpiece about a man who loses his fortune and his mind to cards. Herman, an army officer becomes obsessed with learning the secret of the three cards from the Countess. The Countess - who is known as The Queen of Spades - can only reveal the secret to three men wihout facing death. She has already told two men the secret, so cannot answer Herman's question. His obsession costs him dearly - possessions, the womanhe loves and ultimately his own life. When WNO first performed this work, it was highly praised by both critics and audiences. Tickets on sale from Monday 2nd June at 9pm.  (back to top)

For decades WNO's production of this poignant Puccini opera has touched generations of audiences all over the UK and internationally, most recently in Hong Kong. A new production is planned for the near future - so this is your last chance to see this adored WNO classic. Living in romantic poverty, this musical story of love and hardship among the bohemians has touched generations of audiences with its universal poignancy, appeal and supreme melodic beauty. Two love affairs bring renewed excitement to the lives of four poverty-stricken bachelor artists. The affair between Mimì and Rodolfo blossoms but is cruelly blighted by Mimì's tuberculosis. The opera contains one of the most famous of Puccini's arias - 'your tiny hand is frozen.' Tickets on sale from Monday 2nd June at 9pm. Matinee performance on Saturday at 2.15pm.  (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 o