HANS Christian Andersen's tale The Nightingale is brought to life in a new production at The Door, Bir-mingham Repertory Theatre on Friday and Saturday.
Adapted and directed by David K S Tse, the award-winning East Asian Yellow Earth Theatre production played to sell-out audiences in March in Hong Kong.
Described as "a wonderful uplifting story about love, loyalty and freedom," the show is designed to enthral audiences of all ages through dance, music, shadow puppetry and video.
The Nightingale is set in China where the plain little bird with the beautiful song wins the Emperor's heart.
A spokesman said: "To keep her close, he imprisons the bird in a golden cage but the nightingale is soon ousted by a new toy, a jewel-encrusted mechanical bird.
"The nightingale escapes back to the forest but when death arrives to snatch the Emperor's life away, who will save his ailing heart?"
This year is the bicentenary of the birth of Hans Christian Andersen, one of the world's favourite children's authors. His stories The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling and The Emperor's New Clothes have delighted generations.
The show is being staged at 1.30pm and 7.45pm on Friday and at 2.45pm and 7.45pm on Saturday.
Tickets cost £10, £7.50 concessions and £4.50 for under 16s from the box office on 0121 236 4455 or online at www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
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