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    Porgy and Bess Tickets

    London Coliseum

    The Gershwins’ popular musical Porgy and Bess is revived at the London Coliseum as part of the venue’s 2018-2019 season. Exploring the relationships between a close-knit South Carolina community, the action takes place in the 1920’s and combines the sumptuous music of jazz, ragtime and blues.

    George Gershwin is best-known for his big-band compositions in the first few decades of the 20th century, as well as musicals including contemporary opera Porgy and Bess. Originally premiering over 80 years ago, Porgy and Bess is revived at the ENO’s London Coliseum, accompanied by a chorus of over 40 performers cast especially for this production.

    Set in Charleston, South Carolina, the show takes place in a tenement building where a close-knit community reside. A game of craps unfolds over the first part of the show, ending in tragedy with Bess needing somewhere to live. Porgy takes her in and the rest of the building must deal with the consequences. Bess and Porgy begin to fall for each other, but Bess’s estranged husband isn’t far away, and a big storm is coming to the coastal community.

    This opera has a large cast of central characters, played by Eric Greene, Nicole Cabell, Nmon Ford, Latonia Moore, Gweneth-Ann Rand, Nadine Benjamin, Tichina Vaughn, Donovan Singletary, Frederick Ballentine, Sarah-Jane Lewis, Thando Mjandana, Rheinaldt Tsepo Moagi, Chaz’men Williams-Ali, Bryon Jackson, Nozuko Teto, Njabulo Madlala and Whitaker Mills.

    John Wilson conducts, with James Robinson directing. Dianne McIntyre choreographs and the design team is composed of Michael Yeargan, Catherine Zuber, Donald Holder and Luke Halls. Director James Robinson is currently Artistic Director of Opera Theatre St Louis.

    An emotionally charged, powerfully moving musical, Porgy and Bess is the compelling piece based on family drama and lives of black people in the 20s, delivered through a sumptuous score of opera, blues, jazz, bluegrass and ragtime. The production plays at the West End’s London Coliseum for a limited season from 11 October to 17 November 2018.

    Sorry this show closed 31 October 2018.

    Performance dates:
    16 Nov 2018 - 31 Oct 2018
    Running time:
    3 hours including an interval.
    Age recommendation:
    No under 5s
    Audience Notes:
    Diversity advocates, American history and culture buffs, as well as regular opera audiences won’t want to miss this compelling debut of Porgy and Bess.

    Latest Audience Reviews

    The whole show was superb. I was totally involved in the story, which was extremely emotional.

    The production and performances were outstanding. Our group ranged from 12 years to 88 years and... More

    Amazing - hats off to the chorus; as a singer, I can appreciate how difficult it must have been!

    Excellent. Bess' diction was poor and she was inaudible.

    Absolutely brilliant. I know Porgy and Bess very well and it didn't disappoint.

    I did enjoy the show although it is not really my cup of tea. The singing and act was good and th... More

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