THE Russian State Ballet and Opera House is back for their annual UK tour with its vibrant, and enchanting full touring ballet productions of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet.

Directed and choreographed by former Bolshoi Ballet soloist, Konstantin Uralsky, The Russian State Ballet and Opera House is coming to The Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham at the end of this month and Swindon's Wyvern Theatre in November as part of a UK tour.

With music by Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev, the productions feature an impressive cast accompanied by a large live orchestra with over 30 musicians.

Swan Lake is a tale of two young women, Odette and Odile, who resemble each other so closely one can easily be mistaken for the other.

It is a compelling legend of a tragic romance in which a princess, Odette, is turned into a swan by an evil curse. Prince Siegfried chances upon a flock of swans while out hunting. When one of the swans turns into a beautiful young woman he is instantly captivated – will his love prove strong enough to break the evil spell that she is under?

Romeo and Juliet is the world’s best-known love story. Two innocent youths meet by chance, relishing the discovery and passion of first love – only to be shattered by tragic twists of fate and the destructive hatred of their own families.

The Nutcracker, a Christmas classic for the whole family, is based on The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, written by E.T.A. Hoffmann and it tells the story of Marie, a sad little girl, whose godfather Drosselmeyer gives her a nutcracker doll as a present on Christmas Eve, which turns into a prince.

When midnight strikes, the world turns all magical in the wintry glitter of Christmas Eve. Toys come alive, the Mouse-king and his mouse-army battle with the Nutcracker Prince and we travel through the Land of Snow to an enchanted place where the magic really begins.

  •  The Russian State Ballet and Opera House visit The Everyman on October 26-28. Box Office 01242 572 573 or everymantheatre.org.uk and The Wyvern on November 21-22. Box Office 01793 524481 or swindontheatres.co.uk