Sergei Polunin and the Stanislavsky Ballet backstage in Coppélia – in pictures

All eyes are on Sergei Polunin, pictured here in his dressing room – a controversial figure who stunned the dance world after he abruptly departed from the Royal Ballet last year, then created further waves when he made a dramatic (and unscheduled) exit from a version of Midnight Express in April. Polunin now dances with the Moscow-based Stanislavsky Ballet company Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

Polunin is here to perform in Roland Petit's 1975 version of the classic ballet Coppélia, in which a malign inventor called Dr Coppelius (danced here by Anton Domashev) constructs a life-size doll who can also dance. The doll's name gives the piece its name Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

In this production, Polunin (left, alongside Domashev) plays the hero, Franz – a simple country boy who falls in love with the dancing doll Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

Kristina Shapran plays Swanilda, Franz's former love, who is forced to intervene when things become too passionate with the doll Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

Things come to a head when Swanhilde and her friends break into Coppelius's house, only to find a room full of mechanical dolls Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

Tragedy is averted, though, after Swanhilde dresses herself up as a doll – thereby convincing Franz to come to his senses Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

Shapran in patriotic garb, flanked by Stanislavsky Ballet artistic director Igor Zelensky and conductor Anton Grishanin Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

One of the Stanislavsky Ballet's dancers gets ready backstage Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

Female dancers begin their warmup for yesterday's dress rehearsal Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

Stagehands manoeuvre the bulky set into place Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

Dancers tighten their ballet shoes backstage, ready for the off Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

The company begin their warmup on set Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

One of the production's dolls takes a breather while technicians prepare the set Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

The female chorus strut their stuff Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

A member of the backstage crew on doll duty Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

The full company in action during a chorus scene Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

Happily ever after? Polunin and Shapran, together at last Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian