LEGENDARY ballet The Nutcracker will be delighting audiences at the Malvern Theatres later this month.

The production, first performed in 1892, transformed classical ballet into a fairytale to become one of Tchaikovsky's most famous compositions.

It is now one of the most popular ballets in the world and will be performed to a large live orchestra in Malvern's Festival Theatre on Sunday, November 26 at 1pm and 7pm.

The Nutcracker is being put on by Classical Ballet and Opera House which has produced the genres in more than 100 UK venues.

Its most recent production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly, seen in Malvern in April, was met with considerable acclaim.

The Nutcracker combines mystery and romance along with evocative music and exquisite dance.

The Festival Theatre is also planning to stage William Shakespeare's much-loved comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream.

It runs from Tuesday, November 21 until Saturday, November 25 with evening performances at 7.30pm and Wednesday and Thursday matinees at 2.30pm.

The award-winning Flabbergast Theatre will be bringing a rambunctious approach to the classic.

Goblins and sprites run amok as the king and queen of the faeries settle a spat causing havoc among the humans caught up in their machinations.

Combining a respectful approach to the text and a creative focus on storytelling, Flabbergast brings the magic of midsummer alive with physical comedy, folk song, dance and expert use of European theatre arts.

For more information on upcoming events at Malvern Theatres in the lead-up to Christmas, visit www.malvern-theatres.co.uk/whats-on.