Dr Coppelius

Itself inspired by a tale by Hoffman, Délibes's ballet Coppelia is the bedrock of this delightful children's fantasy. Claudia Corday of the Harkness Ballet takes the dual role of the robotic doll (created by Walter Slezak's eccentric inventor) and the simple village girl who has to rescue her beloved before he loses his heart to her mechanical lookalike. With Caj Selling of the Royal Swedish Ballet playing the bewitched swain, the extensive dance sequences are majestically realised. But sci-fi fans will enjoy Slezak's pantomimic approach to the role, which he reprised in the sequel, The Mysterious House of Dr C.