The team that produced Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland in 2011, the Royal Ballet’s first full-length new work for 16 years, returns to London's Covent Garden in the spring of next year with another new full-length ballet. The Winter’s Tale, based on Shakespeare’s romantic play, follows the destruction of marriage through consuming jealousy, the abandonment of a child and a seemingly hopeless love. Christopher Wheeldon, with his second full-length ballet for the company, will again work with composer Joby Talbot, designer Bob Crowley and lighting designer Natasha Katz.

‘This won’t be Alice, Part II,’ Royal Ballet director Kevin O’Hare said, introducing his second season with the company yesterday. ‘We are really aiming to broaden the repertoire – there’s a hunger for new, full-length works.’

The Royal Ballet season opens in September with another new full-length work – a reworking of the classic ballet Don Quixote by principal guest artist Carlos Acosta, who will also dance the lead role of Basilio at some performances; the music is by Ludwig Minkus, whose most well-known ballet is La bayadère. ‘We’ve never had our own production of Don Quixote,’ O’Hare said. ‘It’s very exciting for everyone involved.’

For full details of the Royal Ballet and Royal Opera 2013-14 seasons visit Royal Opera House.

Antony Craig