WELL, shiver me timbers! The Birmingham Royal Ballet's triple bill of drama, beauty and comedy ends in shipshape fashion with sailors and their girls dancing to music from Gilbert and Sullivan.

It's a light-hearted and amusing way to conclude a thoroughly enjoyable evening at Birmingham Hippodrome as Pineapple Poll is performed to Arthur Sullivan's timeless tunes and John Cranko's choreography.

Poll is mischievously played by Carole-Anne Millar, one of the quayside girls in Portsmouth with eyes only for the handsome Captain Belaye (Robert Parker at his best) – much to the annoyance of the ordinary tars in town.

The brightly costumed piece includes a cracking scene where the girls don false beards and sailor suits, pretending to be crew members.

Autumn Glory opens with Checkmate, cleverly choreographed by Ninette de Valois, in which the dancers become human chess pieces in a searing story of lust, trickery and betrayal.

Iain Mackay and Victoria Marr are superb as the First Red Knight and Black Queen, involved in a battle to the death.

It is beautifully danced, with menace.

The middle piece of the programme, Symphonic Variations, features six dancers performing with extraordinary skill.

A triple treat is given wonderful support by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

by Paul Marston