No longer booking
  • Venue London Coliseum, London
  • Performance dates Booking to 7 February 2026
  • Running time 2 hours 15 minutes (including 1 interval)
  • Age guidelines 5+

HMS Pinafore at ENO – Nautical Nonsense and Operatic Wit from Gilbert & Sullivan

Set sail for a night of timeless hilarity as English National Opera brings back its hit production of HMS Pinafore, Gilbert & Sullivan’s comic opera classic. Returning to the London Coliseum for a strictly limited season from 4 December 2025, this uproarious revival is directed by Cal McCrystal and brimming with British wit, sharp satire, and toe-tapping tunes.

With pomp, patriotism and a healthy dose of class-conflicted romance, HMS Pinafore remains one of G&S’s most beloved works — and this Olivier-nominated staging is a joyous treat for the festive season and beyond.

HMS Pinafore guest stars former The Great British Bake-off host Mel Giedroyc.

What Is HMS Pinafore About?

Aboard the Royal Navy ship HMS Pinafore, love is on a collision course with duty. Captain Corcoran wants his daughter Josephine to marry the high-ranking (and hilariously pompous) Sir Joseph Porter. But Josephine’s heart belongs to someone else: the humble sailor Ralph Rackstraw.

As plans are hatched and identities unravel, this seaborne love triangle takes a turn for the absurd — complete with a surprise twist that threatens to capsize all expectations. Bursting with energy, wordplay and social satire, HMS Pinafore is operatic comedy at its finest.

Why Book HMS Pinafore Tickets at the London Coliseum?

  • Gilbert & Sullivan’s classic comic opera returns in a hit ENO revival
  • Olivier-nominated set and costume design by takis
  • Guest stars former The Great British Bake-off host Mel Giedroyc
  • Fast-paced, joyous and full of catchy songs
  • Directed by comedy maestro Cal McCrystal
  • Conducted by Matthew Kofi Waldren
  • Sung in English with surtitles – perfect for all audiences
  • Great introduction to opera with timeless humour and memorable music

Book HMS Pinafore Tickets Now

With only a limited run at the London Coliseum, HMS Pinafore is your chance to enjoy Gilbert & Sullivan at their very best. Packed with charm, cheek and seafaring silliness, ENO’s hit production is a must-see for fans of musical comedy and opera alike.

Book your HMS Pinafore tickets today and get ready for a rollicking voyage of love, laughter and top-deck tunes.

Join Captain Corcoran and his daughter Josephine as she faces a battle between duty and love on the high seas. While her father makes plans for her to tie the knot with the suitably ranked First Lord of the Admiralty, Josephine has romantic ideas of her own. And after falling for lowly deckhand Ralph, the loved-up pair make plans to elope. That is, until a surprise revelation rocks the boat.

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Performance Information

Check booking calendar for full details

Stars and Creatives

Mel Giedroyc in HMS Pinafore
Mel Giedroyc in HMS Pinafore

Who is in the cast of HMS Pinafore?

HMS Pinafore Cast 2025/26

Guest starring Mel Giedroyc, with Neal Davies as Sir Joseph, John Savournin as Captain Corcoran, Thomas Atkins as Ralph Rackstraw, Trevor Eliot Bowes as Dick Deadeye, Marcus Farnsworth as the Boatswain, Nicholas Crawley as the Carpenter, Bethan Langford as Hebe, Rhonda Browne as Buttercup, and Spencer Darlaston-Jones as Actor. The role of Josephine is shared by Henna Mun (performing on 4 Dec, 5 Dec, 23 Jan, 24 Jan Evening, 25 Jan Evening, 29 Jan Evening, 31 Jan Evening, 4 Feb, 5 Feb, and 7 Feb Matinee) and Eleanor Sanderson-Nash (performing on 24 Jan Matinee, 29 Jan Matinee, and 31 Jan Matinee)

Who are the creative team of HMS Pinafore?

  • Written by Gilbert and Sullivan
  • Matthew Kofi Waldren – Conductor
  • Cal McCrystal – Director
  • takis – Set and Costume Designer
  • Tim Mitchell – Lighting Designer
  • Ian Jackson-French – Revival Lighting Designer
  • Lizzi Gee – Choreographer
  • Spencer Darlaston-Jones – Associate Choreographer

Important Notes

Sung in English, with subtitles 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

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Critics' reviews of HMS Pinafore

★★★★ ‘endlessly mischievous staging’; ‘joyous, plentiful and admirably performed’ The Times

● ‘This is how G&S should be staged’ The Spectator

● ‘a touch of genius’; ‘enormous fun’ The Stage

Frequently Asked Questions

HMS Pinafore is playing at the London Coliseum in London
The running time of HMS Pinafore is 2 hours 15 minutes (including 1 interval)
The age recommendations for HMS Pinafore are: 5+
Yes, HMS Pinafore has matinee performances on the following days: Saturday
No, sorry, HMS Pinafore has now completed its run and is no longer on sale.

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