Ticket sales for the English National Ballet have fallen

A shortfall in revenue from its vital Christmas season is being blamed.

December's takings from a production of The Nutcracker at London's Hammersmith Apollo fell �500,000 short of what it could have been at the company's home.

The Coliseum in the West End has been closed to allow a refurbushment worth �41m to take place.

The brand new full-length production was due to premiere at Southampton's Mayflower on 19 October.

Repertory productions of Nuryev's Romeo and Juliet and The Nutcracker will now take its place.

'Downturn'

The Ballet's head of public affairs Jim Fletcher said there has been "a definite downturn in box office receipts".

"If and when finances are healthier, then Les Liaisons Dangereuses will be reinstated," he added.

Another problem which is being blamed for the ballet's cancellations is stiff comepetition from London's West End theatres.

"People are looking for last minute discounts. It's something the general public expects," said the English National Ballet's marketing director Fiona Mallin-Robinson.

Large arts concerns such as the ENB have also been losing out with the reduction of corporate sponsorship in recent years.

Reinstatement

The English National Opera has also been affected by the Coliseum refurbishments.

It could lose up to �400,000 after having to shelve the debut of Nixon In China, but is due to return to its base later this month.