Peter Grimes Tickets

Peter Grimes in London 

Experience the brooding power of Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes at the Royal Opera House, in the heart of Covent Garden. Deborah Warner’s stark contemporary staging of Britten’s gripping tale of isolation, judgement and haunting tragedy returns this spring, conducted by Jakub Hrůša, Music Director of The Royal Opera. Step into the tense world of a small coastal village where suspicion and hostility grow around fisherman Peter Grimes as he battles tragedy, community suspicion and his own fragile mind - secure your tickets today. 

What is the opera Peter Grimes about? 

Set in a bleak English coastal village, the story follows Peter Grimes, a fisherman whose life becomes defined by the mysterious death of his apprentice. Cleared by the inquest, Grimes faces continuing suspicion and marginalisation from the tight‑knit community. Determined to make a living, he takes on another apprentice, but tragedy strikes again, pushing him to the brink of sanity as the villagers’ mistrust grows.

Themes of alienation, moral ambiguity and the oppressive force of communal judgment are set against compelling orchestral writing, including Britten’s iconic "Four Sea Interludes", that evokes the merciless sea and the psychological landscape of the protagonist.

The History of Peter Grimes

Adapted by Benjamin Britten and Montagu Slater from the narrative poem The Borough by George Crabbe, Peter Grimes has stood as one of the most important British operas of the 20th century. Credited with reviving English opera on the international stage, its complex protagonist and moral ambiguity have challenged audiences since its premiere at Sadler's Wells in 1945 - which also marked the reopening of the theatre following World War II. The opera’s powerful marine‑inspired orchestration has made works like the "Four Sea Interludes" an enduring part of classical concert repertoire.

The Royal Opera House has presented several key productions of Peter Grimes over the decades, and Deborah Warner’s visceral contemporary staging, which originally premiered in 2022 as part of The Royal Opera’s Britten Cycle, returns in 2026 to probe the psychological and social forces at the heart of Britten’s drama.

The Cast of Peter Grimes 

Casting varies by performance date. Principal cast includes:

• Allan Clayton – Peter Grimes
• Maria Bengtsson – Ellen Orford
• Sir Bryn Terfel – Captain Balstrode
• Catherine Wyn‑Rogers – Auntie
• John Graham‑Hall – Bob Boles
• Clive Bayley – Swallow
• Jacques Imbrailo – Ned Keene
• Christine Rice – Mrs Sedley
• Barnaby Rea – Hobson
• James Gilchrist – Rev Horace Adams
• Jennifer France – First Niece
• Natalia Labourdette – Second Niece

The Creative Team of Peter Grimes 

Peter Grimes is composed by Benjamin Britten (The Turn of the Screw, Billy Budd) with a libretto by Montagu Slater (The Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Stay Down Miner). 

This Royal Opera production is directed by Deborah Warner (Billy Budd, Wozzeck), with set design by Michael Levine (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Flying Dutchman), costume design by Luis F. Carvalho (Il Trovatore, Don Giovanni), and lighting by Peter Mumford (Die Frau ohne Schatten, The Minotaur). Movement direction is by Kim Brandstrup (The Death of Klinghoffer, Les Enfants Terribles). Music Director of The Royal Opera, Jakub Hrůša (Rusalka, Lohengrin), conducts.

Tickets for Peter Grimes at the Royal Opera House

Britten’s score pulses with emotional depth, from introspective melodies to storm‑laden orchestral surges. Whether you’re discovering Britten’s evocative world for the first time or returning to a masterwork, Deborah Warner’s acclaimed staging of this haunting melodrama promises an unmissable operatic experience this spring. Book your tickets for Peter Grimes at the Royal Opera House today!