Dead Man Walking

Dead Man Walking description

Based on the Oscar-winning movie, Dead Man Walking is designed to horrify!

Love emotionally charged drama? The ENO is delivering exactly that this season. Welcome to Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally’s Dead Man Walking, in town for its London Coliseum premiere, an event celebrating a quarter of a century since the original premiere. Expect an extraordinary tale of redemption, justice, and moral courage in this fresh new co-production directed by ENO Artistic Director Annilese Miskimmon, a true story from the real-life memoir of Sister Helen, played by Susan Sarandon in the hit film alongside Sean Penn.

This story is deeply moving, full of raw emotion with vocal power to match. The scene is a US high security prison, where Sister Helen Prejean endures a disturbing experience as death row murderer Joseph De Rocher's spiritual adviser. He's being executed for the murder of two teenagers but refuses to accept responsibility. The opera follows the nun's personal and religious struggles as she tries to get the killer to confess and bring closure to the families. Will Joseph carry on claiming to be innocent?

Christine Rice plays Sister Helen Prejean, with Michael Mayes as Joseph De Rocher. Sarah Connolly is Mrs Patrick De Rocher, Madeline Boreham is Sister Rose, Andrew Manea is Warden George Benton and Ronald Samm plays Father Grenville. We have Gweneth Ann Rand as Kitty Hart, Jacques Imbrailo as Owen Hart, Catherine Carby as Jade Boucher, and Hubert Francis as Howard Boucher. Zwakele Tshabalala plays the Motorcycle Cop, Michael Lafferty the Older Brother, and Marcus Swietlicki the Younger Brother. Olivia Rose Tringham plays Sister Catherine, Amy Holyland is Sister Lillianne, and Alaric Green and Malachy Frame play the roles of Prison Guards.

It's no surprise that the hauntingly beautiful score by Jake Heggie saw him named Musical America’s 2025 Composer of the Year. He's joined in the creative team by Terrence McNally, the librettist, conductor Kerem Hasan, director Annilese Miskimmon, set designer Alex Eales and costume designer Evie Gurney. D.M. Wood is the lighting designer and Imogen Knight is the movement and intimacy director.

Buy Dead Man Walking tickets to see one of the most profound and provocative operas ever written, thoroughly modern and perfect for the 21st century.

Playing at London Coliseum

St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4ES GB (venue info)

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