CELEBRATING its 13th birthday the Birmingham Royal Ballet's production of The Nutcracker will return to Birmingham.

Peter Wright, then director of the BRB, created this production of The Nutcracker for the city of Birmingham to say thank you to for it support and generosity during the company's move from London.

Since then it has been performed every Christmas at the Birmingham Hippodrome to sell-out audiences.

Over those 13 years it has been staged a total of 170 times in the Second City.

The events of the ballet take place on Christmas Eve, as Clara's family and friends throw a party.

The last guest to arrive is a mysterious magician who brings magical toys including a nutcracker doll for Clara.

At midnight Clara creeps downstairs to find her doll, but discovers all the magical toys have come to life.

The production includes more than 200 costumes, a 50ft Christmas tree, a backstage crew of 50 people, and 160lbs of flame retardant snow imported from New York.

The Nutcracker runs from Thursday, November 28 to Sunday, December 14, at 7.30pm, with 2pm matine on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday November 29, and a 2.30pm matine on Saturdays.

Tickets from £11 to £40 from 0870 7301234.