English National Opera will present Du Yun and Royce Vavrek’s Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Angel’s Bone at the London Coliseum this October, following its UK premiere at Aviva Studios, Manchester earlier this year.
The transfer marks a key moment in ENO’s dual-centre model, bringing contemporary opera to audiences in both Greater Manchester and London. The production has been adapted for each venue, creating distinct experiences for audiences in the two cities.
Winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Music, Angel’s Bone tells the story of Mr and Mrs X.E., a struggling couple who discover two wounded angels in their garden. What begins as an act of apparent kindness gradually becomes a disturbing exploration of greed, exploitation, human trafficking and modern-day slavery.
Du Yun’s score combines medieval polyphony, punk, electronics, chamber music and cabaret, while Royce Vavrek’s libretto has helped establish the work as one of the most significant operas of the last decade.
The production is directed by multi-award-winning theatre and opera director Kip Williams, who returns after making his UK opera debut with the Manchester run. He reunites with designer Marg Horwell, with whom he has collaborated on productions including The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dracula and The Maids.
Also returning is conductor Baldur Brönniman, who leads the Orchestra of ENO in an expanded orchestration of the score. The Times praised Brönniman for “injecting vivid life into Du Yun’s eclectic score” during the Manchester performances.
The original cast reprises their roles for the London engagement. Allison Cook returns as Mrs X.E., a performance The Stage described as “a true star performance”, while Rodney Earl Clarke once again plays Mr X.E., a role he previously “sung with fearsome brilliance” according to The Arts Desk.
Mariam Wallentin returns as Girl Angel, with Matthew McKinney as Boy Angel and Keith Pun as Male Soprano. Manchester-based Kantos Chamber Choir also rejoins the production following acclaim for its performances in Manchester.
Angel’s Bone will run for six performances at the London Coliseum between 16 and 31 October 2026. The production is performed in English with surtitles available and is recommended for audiences aged 18+ due to its portrayal of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, violence and other challenging themes.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
