New productions on sale for 2020

18th December 2019 in News

English National Opera is happy to announce that 4 new productions are on sale through our website for 2020.

First, ENO is collaborating with the Olivier Award-winning touring company OperaUpClose, to announce Peace at Last, a new opera for 3-5-year-olds to be staged at London Coliseum on 7 and 9 April 2020. The opera is the start of a growing relationship between English National Opera and OperaUpClose, who move their office into ENO’s Lilian Baylis House in January 2020.

Based on Jill Murphy’s beloved picture book of the same name, Peace at Last follows the story of Mr Bear, desperately trying to get to sleep amid sounds keeping him up. The opera was created in partnership with Gallions Primary School and Newham Music, premiering in July 2019 with a sell-out national tour to schools and theatres.

Also on sale are two ENO Studio Live productions, to run in May 2020: Judith Weir’s Blond Eckbert and Jonathan Dove’s The Day After.

Telling a noir folktale set in 1980s Glasgow, Blond Eckbert featured the titular character and his wife Berthe, played by ENO Harewood Artists Matthew Durkan and Claire Barnett-Jones, whilst John Findon sings the roles of Walter, Hugo and the Old Woman.  The opera is framed with the narration of the Bird, played by Allison Rose, winner of the 2018 Leonard Ingrams Award.

Following the ‘emotionally compelling’ production at ENO’s Lilian Baylis House in 2017, Jamie Manton’s The Day After moves to Alexandra Palace Theatre in May 2020, starring ENO Harewood Artist Elgan Llŷr Thomas leading the cast as Phaeton. Shaping the tale of Phaeton’s downfall (from Greek myth) as the reasoning behind the world’s downfall, The Day After is a parable with a post-apocalyptic twist.

Finally, ENO and London Musical Theatre Orchestra are pleased to announce A Christmas Carol, a festive semi-staged production of Alan Menken’s symphonic musical. Based on Charles Dickens’ beloved 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol is the 5th semi-staged musical to be performed at the London Coliseum, following in the footsteps of Sweeney Todd, Sunset Boulevard and Carousel.

Peace at Last performances take place on the 7 and 9 April 2020 at 10am and 11.15am at London Coliseum.

The Day After performances will take place on 30 April, 1 May and 2 May (matinee and evening performance) 2020 at Alexandra Palace Theatre.

Blond Eckbert performances will take place on the 20, 21 and 23 (matinee and evening performance) May 2020 at Lilian Baylis House.

A Christmas Carol will run for 10 performances over 6 days at the beginning of December 2020 at London Coliseum.