DAVID Bintley’s and the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s (BRB) production of the enchanting fairytale Cinderella continues at the Theatre Royal Plymouth until Saturday (March 11).

BRB’s production of Cinderella premiered in 2010. It is a full-evening ballet in three acts closely following the traditional Cinderella story of the wicked stepmother, ugly sisters, the fairy Godmother and of course, the slipper.

The music is the complete original score by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, which premiered in 1945 at the Bolshoi in Moscow, but the choreography, by company director David Bintley, was created for this version.

In a break from the character portrayal in Cinderella that has dominated in recent years, David Bintley returned to the original idea of having ballerinas as the two sisters who are ‘ugly on the inside’, rather than being played by two men. He also added a short prologue showing Cinderella and father at her mother’s graveside. This also serves as the introduction of the wicked stepmother who comes to dominate the family.

John Macfarlane’s designs, originated in close collaboration with David Bintley, offer some true coups de theatre including a giant ticking clock and a beautiful carriage.

With beautiful choreography and clear narrative the ballet offers ample opportunities for acting and comedy, particularly for the two sisters, Skinny and Dumpy. It also has great family appeal.