Coppelia

Marina Theatre, Lowestoft

For any lover of ballet, this is a must-see production.

Instantly accessible, the story is told in clear mime and pure choreography. Colourful costumes and sets awe the little girls in the audience, while the music by Leo Delibes, beautifully conducted by Mihai Amihalachioaie, had adult toes tapping.

Dr Coppelius (Igor Gherchiu) is an eccentric magician with a workshop full of mechanical toys. He is convinced he can transfer the spirit of a living person into his most beautiful doll to bring her to life. When a young man, Franz (Egor Schepachiov), finds the mysterious young woman irresistible he has his victim. But the evil doctor reckons without the young man's fiancé, Swanilde (Nadezhda Schepachiova) who pretends to be the doll and saves Franz.

The dancing was slick and tight on the small stage and Schepachiov as Franz showed an excellent sense of comic timing. Gherchiu gave a wonderfully over-the-top performance as Coppelius. Coppelia isn't my first ballet but it has quickly become my favourite.