On the surface, this is a light-hearted affair with an operetta-style plot concerning stolen necklaces returned in the nick of time, treacherous female spies, and a French writer's unflattering portrait of an English Duke - fittingly, for a performance in this theatre, the Duke of Buckingham. With a background of intrigue, it is also the story of how the feisty D'Artagnan finds love and becomes the fourth Musketeer.

David Nixon has produced a hugely enjoyable work by mixing episodes of swashbuckling sword fights, a complex plot, and lot of humour; but he has also created some very beautiful and moving duets. There are spectacular set pieces at the palace, with the courtiers dressed in extraordinary costumes (designed by Nixon himself ) for the formal dances. This is, after all, the very court in which classical ballet has its roots. Louis XIII is revealed as a cross-dresser in a very funny, highly camp solo, with poses from Giselle. Throughout there is very inventive dancing - I particularly remember the dance of the washer-women, in which the washed clothes blend with the women themselves to become part of the choreography. The Musketeers leap and fence with gusto, and the dances for the French queen Ann (Chiaki Nagao ) with her lover Buckingham (Christopher Hinton-Lewis) are beautifully made with many floating lifts. Equally so are the dances for D'Artagnan (Patrick Howell) and Constance (Keiko Amemori). They are very affecting, and provide a lyrical contrast to the macho action. There is also a long and dramatic fight between Constance and the treacherous Lady de Winter ( Desiree Samaii ) as they punch, pull hair and wrestle on the floor in what looks like a pretty dangerous encounter. The performances are excellent, and Patrick Howell is outstanding as d'Artagnan with his powerful jumps and likeable personality.