No longer booking
  • Venue London Coliseum, London
  • Performance dates Booking to 22 October 2025
  • Running time 2 hours 45 minutes (1 interval)
  • Age guidelines 12+

Laughs, Rebellion and British Wit – Benjamin Britten’s brilliant comic opera comes to life at English National Opera

Step into 1940s Suffolk for an irreverent, hilarious romp in Albert Herring, Benjamin Britten’s third opera and his first foray into comedy. After two sombre works – Peter Grimes and The Rape of Lucretia – Britten flipped the script with this cheeky satire about virtue, conformity, and self-discovery.

Now, English National Opera brings this eccentric classic to the London Coliseum in a brand-new production by acclaimed director Antony McDonald.

Running for four performances only from 13–22 October 2025 – book your tickets today.

What’s Albert Herring About?

The village of Loxford needs a May Queen, but all the girls are deemed a little too worldly. So the honour unexpectedly falls to Albert Herring – a painfully shy, virginal greengrocer’s son. The town now has its first May King… and Albert has some growing up to do.

Fuelled by champagne and peer pressure, Albert embarks on an outrageous night that transforms him from timid boy to liberated young man. With riotous consequences and sharp-eyed satire, Albert Herring skewers small-town morality with charm and flair.

Why See Albert Herring at the ENO?

  • Rare chance to see Britten’s comic masterpiece
  • Part of ENO’s Britten legacy – we premiered Peter Grimes in 1945
  • New staging from award-winning director Antony McDonald
  • Sung in English with surtitles – no experience needed
  • Full of wit, whimsy, and Britten’s trademark musical brilliance
  • Just four performances – early booking essential!

Book Albert Herring Tickets Today

Don’t miss ENO’s side-splitting take on Britten’s coming-of-age comedy – a gloriously quirky tale of virtue, rebellion and small-town scandal. With limited performances this October, Albert Herring promises a bold and brilliant night at the opera.

Book your seats now and celebrate Britten’s genius in this eccentric operatic gem.

Loxford, 1943. A typical small market town, where nothing escapes the eye of the redoubtable Lady Billows and her housekeeper Florence Pike. When there are no virtuous girls left in the village, the May Queen organising committee decide to break with tradition and crown the shy and innocent greengrocer’s boy Albert Herring as the May King.

But heavy is the head that wears the May King crown, and Albert’s friend Sid intervenes with some mischievous assistance throughout the day as Albert accepts his fate and the cash prize. Join us as Albert’s newfound village status leads to an alcohol-fuelled night of debauchery and self-discovery.

This funny, quirky and off-centre opera is the perfect commentary on small town eccentricities and will be sure to set curtains twitching and tongues wagging, up and down the country.

Sign-up for booking alerts, offers & news about Albert Herring and other shows:

Photos

Stars and Creatives

Who is in the cast of Albert Herring?

The cast features Emma Bell as Lady Billows, Carolyn Dobbin as Florence Pike, Aoife Miskelly as Miss Wordsworth, Eddie Wade as Mr Gedge, Mark Le Brocq as Mr Upfold, Sir Willard White as Superintendent Budd, Dan D’Souza as Sid, Caspar Singh as Albert Herring, Anna Elizabeth Cooper as Nancy and Leah-Marian Jones as Mrs Herring

Also Natasha Oldbury, Abigail Sinclair, Casper Singh, Eddie Wade and Andri Björn Róbertsson

Who are the creative team of Albert Herring?

  • Composer: Benjamin Britten
  • Libretto: Eric Crozier
  • Conductor: Daniel Cohen
  • Director/Designer: Antony McDonald
  • Lighting designer: Matthew Richardson
  • Associate Director: Sophie Daneman
  • Associate Costume Designer: Ilona Karas

Important Notes

Language: Sung in English, with surtitles projected above the stage.

Venue Information

London Coliseum , St. Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4ES

Nearest Tube or Train: Leicester Square (Northern line, Piccadilly line), Charing Cross (Northern line, Bakerloo line), Embankment (Northern line, Bakerloo line, District line, Circle line)

Nearest Buses: 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 29, 53, 77a, 88, 91, 139, 159, 176

Directions

Google Apple

Critics' reviews of Albert Herring

★★★★ "Britten’s comic opera is still astonishing" - The Times

★★★★ "A delight... ENO’s witty new production of Britten’s comedy opera is well worth watching" - The Telegraph

★★★★ "This small-scale show packs a genuine punch" - Evening Standard

★★★★ "A great comedy with depths fully realised" - The Arts Desk

● "ENO heralds new era with witty staging of Britten’s story" - The Guardian

● "English National Opera’s Albert Herring delights in Britten’s quick-witted music" - The FT

● "Refreshingly modern" - The Stage

Frequently Asked Questions

Albert Herring is playing at the London Coliseum in London
The running time of Albert Herring is 2 hours 45 minutes (1 interval)
The age recommendations for Albert Herring are: 12+
Yes, Albert Herring has matinee performances on the following days:
No, sorry, Albert Herring has now completed its run and is no longer on sale.

More Great Shows

See all