We are pleased to announce that Jim Steinman’s highly anticipated new musical BAT OUT OF HELL will be performed at our home, the London Coliseum, during summer 2017. BAT OUT OF HELL, inspired by one of the most iconic and successful albums in history, features 17 of Jim Steinman’s best-loved songs and will be directed by award-winning theatre and opera director Jay Scheib.

BAT OUT OF HELL will be performed at the London Coliseum during the time that we traditionally hire out the building to visiting companies. Our yearly reduction in public funding means that we have increased our box office and fundraising targets alongside savings to ENO’s fixed costs. We have also increased our target income from visiting company partnerships. By renting out the London Coliseum for this extended period we will generate significantly more income that we can then invest back into our opera, talent development and the work of ENO Baylis, our learning and participation department.

As the home of English National Opera, we believe the London Coliseum should be known as a venue for the highest quality theatre and musical storytelling. During the times of the year when the Coliseum is being rented out to visiting companies ENO will stage a variety of operatic productions at other venues and for other audiences. This work outside the Coliseum gives us more flexibility to explore chamber works and unusual repertoire as well as presenting exciting opportunities for talent and audience development. Our world-class Orchestra and Chorus will also participate in events run by the ENO fundraising team and ENO Baylis during this period.

Over the next three years our new way of working will see ENO transition to nine or 10 productions at the Coliseum supported by our outside work. Far from reducing the quality and quantity of our work, in three years time ENO will be producing more opera than it currently does, and will also be making better use of our home, the London Coliseum, for 52 weeks of the year.

The London Coliseum was built to be enjoyed by as wide an audience as possible. By opening up the theatre during the summer months we are delighted to share the spectacular beauty of Frank Matcham’s masterpiece with more people than ever before, while maximising our opportunities to generate the income that will ensure that we continue to offer opera of the highest quality to the widest possible audience.