The Royal Ballet's Nutcracker will run this festive season at the Royal Opera House

It might be curtains for London’s pantomimes, but another much-loved treat will return to the stage in time for the festive season.

A reworked version of classic ballet The Nutcracker will be performed at the Royal Opera House in December.

Created from Peter Wright’s production, which has been running each year since its premiere by The Royal Ballet in 1984, the ROH says the production will be “Covid-safe”.

Set to Tchaikovsky’s memorable score, the Nutcracker follows Clara who is given a nutcracker doll for Christmas, and is drawn into a magical world of toys, sweets and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

It has been announced as part of the ROH’s upcoming season, which will also include The Royal Ballet: Live, with dancers back on stage performing a mixed programme of the company’s traditional and contemporary pieces, from Kenneth MacMillan’s Elite Syncopations to Christopher Wheeldon’s Within The Golden Hour.

An extensive run of opera performances will also be staged from October, including Handel’s Apollo and Daphne and Britten’s Phaedra.

Alex Beard, chief executive of the Royal Opera House, said he was “delighted” to be bringing regular live performance back. “It is vital for theatres across the UK and for our community of diverse artists, that we begin to bring our art forms safely back to our stages.”

The cast, dates and tickets for The Nutcracker will be announced soon.