Beauty and the Beast ballet at Birmingham Hippodrome

Birmingham's Royal Ballet are all set to perform a powerful tale in front of a home crowd in the city.

A dramatic story of passion and prejudice will be played out at the Birmingham Hippodrome when Birmingham Royal Ballet performs Beauty and the Beast from Wednesday, September 28, 2011 to Sunday, October 2, 2011.

The production was created by David Bintley and enjoyed its world premiere in 2003 at the company's home theatre. It is returning to the stage for a limited run of seven performances.

Simon Harper, the BRB's media manager, said the story is well known.

He said: "Searching the country to salvage his lost fortune, a once-wealthy merchant seeks shelter in a mysterious castle, where invisible forces tend to his every need.

"The merchant's older daughters have demanded gifts of gold, jewels and fine clothes; the youngest, Belle, has asked for a single rose.

"But when the merchant plucks just one bloom from the garden of the castle he unleashes a fearsome Beast, who exacts a terrible forfeit: In return for the merchant's life, he must send his daughter Belle to live in the castle.

"As the dazzlingly beautiful Belle prepares to meet her beastly captor, she is about to discover for herself the meaning of true love."

The action follows the beautiful girl, a hideous beast, a golden ballroom full of animals, two outrageously haughty sisters and a grumpy grandmother worthy of Roald Dahl, who dance, prance and rage through the unfolding pages of Philip Prowse's stunning storybook-set of forests and castles.

David Bintley's rich choreographic palette brings to life magical transformations, wild waltzes, soaring formations of birds and a relationship between Belle and the Beast that is at first terrifying, but ultimately serene and beautiful.

Mr Harper added: "Weaving some delightful new twists into this timeless fable, David Bintley's Beauty and the Beast is the classic family treat.

"With fairytale sets, amazing costumes and Glenn Buhr's beautiful score, this is an unforgettable evening of entertainment for all ages."

Beauty and the Beast serves as a prelude to a second Birmingham Royal Ballet production planned for coming weeks. Autumn Glory will run from October 6 to 8 and feature three pieces, Checkmate, Symphonic Variations and Pineapple Poll.

Mr Harper said: "Ninette de Valois' choreography for Checkmate brings to life a dramatic and stylised war of lust, trickery and betrayal.

"The pared-down purity of Frederick Ashton's Symphonic Variations showcases technically brilliant dance from a master choreographer. Danced to César Franck's exquisitely concise Symphonic Variations for piano and orchestra, this ballet for six dancers is rightly hailed as one of the greatest masterpieces of English ballet.

"Pineapple Poll is a Gilbert and Sullivan-inspired comic ballet, and is what a classic cartoon might look like if brought to life on stage.

"With the aid of a foot-tapping medley of the best of Gilbert and Sullivan and the comic choreographic touch of John Cranko, this is a spirited and altogether jolly piece that exudes life and colour."

Tickets for all productions are available from www.brb.org.uk

Andy Richardson