Royal Opera House, London
Vivid designs, frog and fish footmen and a comedy dame bring good energy to the Royal Ballet’s Alice, with beautiful dancing from the leads

This ballet is at its best when someone is at risk of having their head chopped off – which always brings a bit of urgency to proceedings. Kristen McNally with a cleaver (as the Cook) has been one of the highlights of the Royal Ballet’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland since it was created by Christopher Wheeldon in 2011; ditto the deliciously fearsome Queen of Hearts, dishing out diktats in a costume so fabulously extra it has to be wheeled on stage.

Lauren Cuthbertson, the original Alice, has now graduated into the Queen’s role. She may not be quite as terrifying as Zenaida Yanowsky’s original, but she is very funny, and having a ball. Meanwhile, for opening night, Francesca Hayward steps into Alice’s shoes.