Effervescent ballet a fantastic eye-opener

FULL disclosure. I had no idea there was such a thing as comedy ballet until I went to watch La Fille mal gardée at the Theatre Royal last week.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

It was my first experience of a ballet and I'm in my 58th year now so I was not at all sure what to expect from the performance, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The Birmingham Royal Ballet production had all the artistry, grace and light-footedness I had anticipated. All of the performers, not just the principals but everyone else alongside them on the stage, were fantastic to my untrained eye.

The music from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia was excellent too. From before even the first curtain rose until it dropped for the final time, it was a treat to listen to.