THE first few months of the new year sees Birmingham Royal Ballet staging love story Coppelia and the fascinating tale of the Arthurian legends at Birmingham Hippodrome.

Coppelia, which runs from February 18-22, tells the story of a strange, beautiful girl who appears on the balcony of Dr Coppelius' house.

Local girl Swanilda is very intrigued but her love Franz is totally enchanted.

Eccentric Dr Coppelius is secretly a toy maker and the mysterious girl is his favourite creation, a mechanical doll called Coppelia.

As the characters gather inside the toy factory, his ultimate dream comes true and Coppelia appears to come to life.

In Arthur parts 1 and 2, being staged from March 4-8, a king and his people take a look at love, power and revenge - and the heartache and heroics they provide.

Part 1 charts the mysterious events that lead to Arthur's birth, his inauspicious childhood, the secrecy surrounding his parentage and his eventual succession to the throne of a chaotic, unstable kingdom.

In part 2, the two people Arthur trusts above all others hide a secret passion for each other that threatens the very fabric of society.

Tickets cost £11-£40 plus concessions from the box office on 0870 730 1234.