Performer: Neil Balfour

Olivia Fuchs' production of Rimsky-Korsakov's charming fable for ETO begins its tour in Hackney and is worth travelling to see. Catch this thoughtful production in a town near you.

Femi Elufowju's new staging of Verdi's classic is innovative, provocative and closely connected with the modern world.

Lindy Hume's new production works reasonably well in allowing the story to be told with sufficient emotional weight.