I ATTENDED the Nutcracker at St Helens Theatre Royal on Friday. It was my ninth Vienna Festival Ballet show at the Royal and it was just as good as the first.

Growing up in a former mining town famous for its fancy footwork on the rugby field, ballet wasn't really on my radar until 2012/13 when I attended my first show at the Royal and 18 shows later I'm still hooked.

The music by Tchaikovsky in the Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty is superb and the dancers are amazing athletes. I would urge all readers to give it a try next time it comes to town.

Michael Egan, The Shires