English National Opera unveils plans for sex, silence and Hollywood stars

Hollywood star Rory Kinnear has been signed up for his opera directorial debut
Hollywood star Rory Kinnear has been signed up for his opera directorial debut Credit: Dan Wooller/Rex 

English National Opera has unveiled its masterplan to secure its future: more musicals, a tour to Blackpool, and “sex, sex, and more sex”.

ENO, which has suffered financial and staff crises in the last year, is to stage a jazz-opera fusion it has dubbed “be-bopera”, partner with a high-tech “Silent Opera” company to put on opera through headphones, and stage pop concerts at its main venue.

It has also signed up Hollywood star Rory Kinnear for his opera directorial debut, as the company leaves the Coliseum for productions in Hackney, Blackpool and the Southbank.

New artistic director Daniel Kramer said he could not make any “false promises to magically restore” ENO’s fortunes, but argued taking on musicals and pop gigs would be “fantastic” in bringing in new audience members who might one day graduate to a classic opera.

Daniel Kramer 
Daniel Kramer  Credit: Tristram Kenton

Plans for 2016-17 are the blueprint for how ENO plans to get back on financial track after losing much of its Arts Council funding amid accusations of financial mismanagement.

Its policy, according to Kramer and CEO Cressida Pollock, will be focused on bringing new audiences through its doors with a series of non-traditional opera commissions, in a light introduction they hope will be “habit forming”.

It will see ENO staging at least one musical a year, following successful co-production will Sunset Boulevard this season, and renting out the Coliseum for £120,000 a week for 15 weeks each summer while it puts on other productions elsewhere.

In the 2016-7 season, this will include The Mikado in Blackpool, a concert hall performance of The Dream of Gerontius at the Southbank Centre, and Charlie Parker’s Yardbird, a “jazz-infused chamber orchestra” at the Hackney Empire.

Kinnear will take on the world premiere of Ryan Wigglesworth’s The Winter’s Tale, his first opera, while a new production of Don Giovanni was described as being based on “sex, sex and more sex”.

The English National Opera's Mikado
The English National Opera's Mikado Credit: Tristram Kenton

A partnership with Silent Opera could see operas delivered through wireless headphones to audiences roaming around other London spaces.

Kramer, a theatre director who has moved into opera, said he was “not bothered” by the need to put on musicals and operettas to encourage new audiences, adding it was key to increase revenue while “winning the assurance of the public and the arts council”.

Pollock added the company was also attempting to cut ticket prices in the long run, saying it would be a “fundamental mistake” to think raising the cost of seats would increase revenue.

The cost of tickets in the upper circles next season will be slightly down, along with those on the balcony, with the best seats in the house raised to £125 to balance it out.

Pollock also disclosed reasons behind the departure of Mark Wigglesworth, who dramatically resigned earlier this year citing too many cuts to the company.

Mark Wigglesworth
Mark Wigglesworth Credit: Sim Canetty-Clarke

At the time it was revealed he had had his own proposals studied but rejected by the ENO board. Pollock claimed these had included cutting all learning, outreach and talent development budget.

A dispute with the chorus and orchestra, who threatened strike over changes to their contracts, was “extremely difficult”, Pollock said, but had begun to “heal”.

Kramer said: “Let’s be frank, it’s been a very hard year. There’s been a trauma of sorts. The spirit which defines this company has been in danger.

“I cannot and will not make them [staff] or you false promises about things that I can magically restore.

“My goal right now is to get a programme on the main stage and outside of core operas that will magnetise our audience every year, getting people flowing through the building, getting a new and refreshed relationship with ENO.” 

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