The story of Cinderella is one of the best-known fairytales, and Frederick Ashton’s full-length version for The Royal Ballet has all its familiar ingredients. A downtrodden young girl, a glass slipper and a handsome prince combine to make the perfect piece of story-telling, and with a fairy godmother around, anything can happen: pumpkins become coaches, rags turn to ball gowns and there’s bound to be a happy ending. Ashton’s ballet draws together a wealth of wonderfully drawn characters, portrayed against the evocative themes and colours of Prokofiev’s great orchestral score.
 
This is a mysterious and magical fantasy world, where the comedy of Cinderella’s pantomime step-sisters – unlucky in looks and love – provides the perfect foil for the developing romance of Cinderella and the Prince. Cinderella is a family event full of the magic of not just of the fairy godmother, but of The Royal Ballet too.