English National Opera has announced that Angel’s Bone, the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera by Du Yun with a libretto by Royce Vavrek, will receive its UK premiere in 2026.
The new production opens at Aviva Studios, Manchester on 12 May 2026, before transferring to the London Coliseum on 16 October 2026.
Directed by multi-award-winning theatre and opera director Kip Williams, the staging marks his UK opera debut.
Designer Marg Horwell joins Williams as part of their long-term creative partnership, alongside Jack Knowles as Lighting Designer, Ash J Woodward as Video Designer, and Dominic Bilkey and Joseph Reiser as Co-Sound Designers.
Internationally renowned conductor Baldur Brönnimann will lead the performances, returning to the city where he trained at the Royal Northern College of Music.
The opera follows a desperate couple, Mr and Mrs X.E., who discover two wounded angels in their garden. What begins as a moment of compassion soon becomes a disturbing tale of greed, exploitation and human trafficking.
Du Yun’s genre‑defying score blends medieval polyphony, punk, electronics, cabaret and chamber music, creating a vivid musical world unlike any other.
The cast includes Scottish mezzo-soprano Allison Cook as Mrs X.E., returning to ENO after her acclaimed performance in Duke Bluebeard’s Castle in 2024.
Rodney Earl Clarke performs the role of Mr X.E., bringing his extensive operatic and musical theatre experience to the production.
Swedish musician and voice artist Mariam Wallentin makes her ENO debut as Girl Angel, while Scottish tenor and Kathleen Ferrier Award winner Matthew McKinney appears as Boy Angel.
Hong Kong countertenor Keith Pun joins the cast as Male Soprano.
The production is supported by Factory International in Manchester and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, with the London performances accompanied by the Orchestra of ENO.
Kantos Chamber Choir will appear in both cities as a guest ensemble, offering distinctive vocal textures across the two stagings.
Each version of Angel’s Bone will be shaped by its venue, offering audiences in Greater Manchester and London two unique theatrical experiences.
Kip Williams said: “Angel’s Bone is an opera of extraordinary power and revelation – it is as inventive and unique in its form as it is unflinching and urgent in the issues it speaks to. It is an honour to be bringing this work to life for its UK premiere, alongside an extraordinary creative team, a phenomenal cast and the brilliant people at ENO and Factory International.”
Annilese Miskimmon, Artistic Director of ENO, added: “Bringing Angel’s Bone to the UK for the first time, premiering in Greater Manchester before coming to London, signals a defining moment for English National Opera. Created across two places and powered by deep collaboration, this production connects exceptional artists and partners while opening our doors to broader audiences than ever before.”
Tickets for Greater Manchester are on sale now, with London tickets to follow in April.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
