RUDOLF Nureyev’s award-winning production of Romeo & Juliet visits Southampton celebrating English National Ballet’s 60th anniversary next week.

Nureyev’s unforgettable staging of Shakespeare’s famous love story is revived by Patricia Ruanne who originally danced Juliet when Nureyev first created this production in 1977.

Danced to a sumptous score by Prokofiev and played by the 70 piece Orchestra of English National Ballet, first time audiences will be amazed by the Company’s 67 dancers and how their pirouettes combine with choreographed sword-fighting. Audiences might recognise the music in the grand ballroom scene as the theme tune to the BBC’s Apprentice!

This tragic tale of doomed love follows the plight of young adolescents, Romeo and Juliet, and their short but passionate romance.

Dominic Hickie, the company’s sports therapist and acupuncturist, adds to his busy day job by making a cameo appearance in Romeo & Juliet – 30 years after joining the company and 12 years after last performing.

He performed as part of the original production with Rudolf Nureyev and told Scene South: “It was during my first days in the company and he had such an impact on me. Such an amazing man and dancer and so charismatic.

“This version of Romeo & Juliet really recaptures the spirit of the original and in fact in terms of technical ability, the dancers have got better in that time.”

Romeo & Juliet runs from Wednesday to Saturday.

Tickets: 023 8071 1811 or visit mayflower.org.uk