Apart of entertaining, fairy tales are to educate. This time even before the show the first lesson is already given. The one of making choices when there is no right or wrong. The Lyric Theatre and the English National Ballet are bringing to Hammersmith the Christmas' magic in double, two Cinderellas.

Which one to choose…? Both. Moneywise there are plenty of offer to suit all pockets. For ENB's Cinderella at the Carling Apollo tickets prices start at £12.50, and there are special prices for schools, senior citizens, disabled people, unemployed and students. The Lyric has tickets at £9 on Mondays. For the others days, tickets are up to £20, but Children pay £9 always.

The Lyric and ENB add yet another adaptation to the 3,000 Cinderella's stories produced almost in every culture and nation in the world since the earliest version written in China by 850-60 A.D.. At the Lyric, it is a brand new staging of Cinderella by the young director Dan Jemmett, rising star of the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris.

In this new adaptation, Cinderella works in a run-down fairground. Threatened with the risk of closure and the prospect of a miserable life with her ugly sisters, she dreams that one day her wish might come true...riding the carousel horses and whooshing down the helter skelter she will be whisked away to the magical, glittering funfair of her dreams.

ENB brings Michael Corder's award-winning production created 1996. 64 of the world's best dancers is accompanied by the full orchestra of English National Ballet playing some of Prokofiev's finest music, evoking the spite of the Stepsisters, the magic of the Fairy Godmother and the love between the Prince and Cinderella herself.

ENB production is the winner of the 1996 Evening Standard Award for Outstanding Production and the 1997 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production.

Need any other reason for seeing both? Bullying. Cinderella herself can be target of critics because of her waiting-for-the-dream-come-true passive role. But there is something as contemporary as never in the Cinderella fairy tale. Although they don't make the headlines like some pop stars, priests, colleagues at school leading kids to suicide and even presidents, the Ugly Sisters and the Step Mother are no better than any real life bully.

Apart of entertaining, fairy tales are supposed to educate. Cinderella didn't do much in over 1,000 years (according to the news). Maybe is a question of seeing it twice as a theatre play and as a ballet. Entertaining it will be for sure.

The Lyric Web Site

ENB Web site