AFTER the sell-out performances of Swan Lake last year, the Russian National Ballet is coming to The Albert halls with the eternal seasonal favourite ­— The Nutcracker.

The world famous ballet,with music by Tchaikovsky, has become a Christmas classic, enchanting families in the run up to the festive season.

The Nutcracker is a vibrant classical ballet, a family orientated production with the magic of a fairy tale and this production has some added glamour with stunning new costumes.

The ballet has captured the imagination of many generations over the years and continues to attract audiences worldwide.

The original Christmas story is based on The Nutcracker and the Mouse King written by E.T.A. Hoffmann. It tells the story of Marie, a sad little girl, whose godfather, Drosselmeier, gives her a Nutcracker doll as a present on Christmas Eve.

In her lively imagination it turns into a prince and the magic starts.

The ballet is billed as the ultimate fairy-tale where goodness and beauty triumph, in which Marie enters a dream like land where she dances with snowflakes.

It is described as a highly accessible ballet, full of familiar music such as the Waltz of the flowers, and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Set designer Lubov Sidelnikova said:“The Nutcracker is a delightful and sympathetic fairy tale constructed around the gemstone of Tchaikovsky’s music.

“With the set design I wanted to embed the perfect dream of a flawless world where everyone is happy and good always triumphs over evil. “People are always strive to beautify their life and through beauty we try to create harmony and joy.

“In the set design of The Nutcracker I tried to create a sense of lightness and convey a mood of celebration.”

Russian National Ballet has entertained thousands of people over the years and has become known for its dramatic choreographic interpretation of the beauty for which this ballet is known.

The company has presented the ballets Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote and many more.

A spokesman for the company said: “No knowledge or experience of ballet is needed to enjoy these classics. Our sets and costume designs, as well as the informative programmes, make the productions very accessible and most of all, enjoyable.”

The ballet will be performed at The Albert Halls on October 19 at 7.30pm as part of a UK tour.

Tickets are £17.25 and the performance finishes at 10pm.

For more information visit https://www.alberthalls-bolton.co.uk/events/event/21/nutcracker