ENB, The Sleeping Beauty, London Coliseum

Following last Autumn’s commemorations of the 25th anniversary of Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s death, and hot on the heels of its performances of MacMillan masterpiece Song of the Earth in the winter, English National Ballet (ENB) is now reviving his rendering of The Sleeping Beauty.

Possibly the world’s favourite fairy tale, The Sleeping Beauty is an equally enchanting classical ballet.

Wicked fairy Carabosse crashes Princess Aurora’s christening, cursing the royal baby to die on her 16th birthday with just one prick of her finger.

Fortunately, the Lilac Fairy intervenes, and the Princess is instead forced to succumb to a century of sleep from which she may only awaken with the help of a handsome Prince’s kiss.

English National Ballet acquired MacMillan’s gorgeously classical version of The Sleeping Beauty in 2005. He first created it for American Ballet Theatre in 1986 and, although it has undergone some revision since, it largely remains true to Marius Petipa’s 1890 original.

Boasting stunning sets by Peter Farmer and exquisite costumes by Nicholas Georgiadis, this Sleeping Beauty features Tchaikovsky’s ravishing score played live by English National Ballet Philharmonic.

Artistic director Tamara Rojo is persistent in her efforts to balance commissioning new works against her desire to honour the classics – and she continues to attract world-class dancers to her company.

Indeed, English National Ballet’s performances of The Sleeping Beauty at London Coliseum will see Bolshoi Ballet star, Maria Alexandrova, guest in the role of Princess Aurora.

These performances will be the first time Moscow-born Alexandrova, who has been a Bolshoi Ballet principal since 2004, has danced with a UK company.

Alexandrova’s performance dates and full Principal casting will be announced soon.