ROYAL BALLET TO PERFORM AT O2 ARENA

Tamara Rojo and Carlos Acosta will perform the principal roles

The Royal Ballet is to perform a series of shows at London's O2 Arena in June, it has been announced.

It is the first time the world famous ballet company has performed in a UK arena.

Carlos Acosta, Tamara Rojo, Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg will dance the principal roles in the production of Romeo and Juliet.

Up to 2,000 tickets for each performance will be available for £10 on a first-come-first-served basis.

The rest of the tickets will sell for £60 and £95 and will be available from 5 December.

A filmed introduction will be shown on giant screens in the venue at the beginning of each act.

Director of the ballet company, Dame Monica Mason, said she was “thrilled” about the production being shown in such a huge venue as it would “introduce our work to so many new people”.

Tony Hall, chief executive of the Royal Opera House added: “This opportunity fits perfectly with our commitment to ensuring that as wide an audience as possible is able to enjoy live performances by The Royal Ballet at affordable prices.”

The June 17-19 performances are being staged in association with impresario Raymond Gubbay, who staged the first opera at the London arena earlier this year.