English National Opera (ENO) will present a new production of Dead Man Walking this November at the London Coliseum, marking the 25th anniversary of Jake Heggie’s acclaimed opera.
Directed by ENO Artistic Director Annilese Miskimmon, the production features a poignant score by Heggie and is based on Sister Helen Prejean’s bestselling memoir. The opera tells the true story of a nun who becomes the spiritual advisor to a convicted murderer on death row.
This new staging is a co-production between ENO, Opera North, and the Finnish National Opera, and will be the first fully staged professional UK production of Dead Man Walking.
Christine Rice MBE stars as Sister Helen Prejean, with international baritone Michael Mayes reprising his role as Joseph De Rocher. Dame Sarah Connolly joins the cast as Joseph’s mother.
Annilese Miskimmon says: “The opportunity to direct a new production of Jake Heggie’s emotionally gripping opera Dead Man Walking in its 25th anniversary year, with the likes of Christine Rice, Michael Mayes and Dame Sarah Connolly among the cast, is a true honor. The themes of morality, guilt and forgiveness that the opera tackles feel as relevant today as they did a quarter of a century ago, and I can’t wait to bring a new production to the ENO audience.”
Kerem Hasan will conduct the Orchestra and Chorus of ENO. The cast also includes Ronald Samm, Madeline Boreham, Jacques Imbrailo, Gweneth Ann Rand, Hubert Francis, Catherine Carby, Olivia Rose Tringham, Amy Holyland, Marcus Swietlicki, Michael Lafferty, Malachy Frame, Alaric Green, Andrew Manea, and Zwakele Tshabalala.
Set design is by Alex Eales, with costumes by Evie Gurney. Lighting is by D.M. Wood and movement and intimacy direction by Imogen Knight.
Dead Man Walking runs from 1–18 November 2025 at the London Coliseum.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
