The first production photos from English National Opera's new Tosca are out, with Axelle Fanyo in the title role and Christopher Purves as Scarpia. The staging opens at the London Coliseum tonight.
Ellie Kurttz took the pictures. They show where director Annilese Miskimmon has moved the story. Her Tosca is set in a concert hall, in an unnamed European country caught in a civil war and facing an invading army at its borders. On stage that means a bare hall of wooden chairs, ladders and a grand piano.
Fanyo, a Grammy-winning soprano, sings the title role opposite Chaz'men Williams-Ali as the painter Cavaradossi. Purves shares the role of the police chief Scarpia with Craig Colclough. Also in the photographs are Alaric Green as Angelotti, Robert Hayward as the Sacristan and Osian Wyn Bowen as Spoletta. Steffan Lloyd Owen plays Sciarrone.
The Chorus of ENO is joined by a Children's Chorus of 20 pupils aged 9-11 from Marlborough Primary School, cast through an ENO Engage partnership with the London West Music Hub. Ben Glassberg conducts, back at ENO for the first time since its 2022 La bohème.
Rosanna Vize designed the set and Evie Gurney the costumes, with lighting by Lee Curran and movement direction by Imogen Knight. The opera is sung in Amanda Holden's English translation, with surtitles.
It is the first of two linked Miskimmon productions this season, a prequel to Adriana Mater, which opens on 28 November. On Saturday 5 December 2026 the pair can be seen back to back: a Tosca matinee, then Adriana Mater in the evening.
"Tosca is one of opera’s most iconic characters, and I look forward to placing her at the centre of her own story by revealing the urgent relevance of Puccini’s opera for audiences today," Miskimmon said.
These are the first pictures from the stage itself, following the rehearsal-room images released at the start of October.
Tosca runs for 13 performances at the London Coliseum from Friday 30 October to Friday 11 December 2026. Tickets start at £15 including fees, under-21s go free at every level of the theatre, and 21-35s can get discounted seats.
