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    magnificent, magnetic and majestic
    London Theatre 1
    a more stately revival
    The Londonist

The Mikado Tickets

London Coliseum

Jonathan Miller's comical and cleverly topical production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado plays at the London Coliseum for a limited season, and features the wonderful Richard Suart reprising his role as the scheming executioner Ko-Ko.

ENO's 2019/20 season continues with a dazzling revival of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. Directed by Jonathan Miller and boasting a memorable score, this is a tale that proves resoundingly apt for our moment in time, while remaining wonderfully farcical. The piece runs at the London Coliseum from 28 October 2019.

The Mikado comprises music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, marking the pair's ninth operatic collaboration. The show premiered at London's Savoy Theatre in 1885. It came to be the second-longest running musical at that time. Today it is frequently performed around the world. In Miller's production, the 'little list' song is a specially adapted, topical highlight guaranteed to delight its audience.

Nanki-Poo is betrothed to the scheming Ko-Ko, who has just been appointed Lord High Executioner, but she is in love with Yum-Yum. When the fatuous Mikado (the emperor of Japan) calls for a beheading, Nanki-Poo and Ko-Ko must put their heads together... or risk losing them. A skewering of the absurdity of laws and the hotheads who make them, Miller's revival takes many a sly dig at today's figures of power. The production is performed in English with surtitles displaying all sung words above.

Star Gilbert and Sullivan performer Richard Suart plays the part of Ko-Ko, a role which he has already made his own. Andrew Shore performs Pooh-Bah and bass Sir John Tomlinson dons the oversized suit of the Mikado. Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum are played by Soraya Mafi and Elgan Llŷr Thomas, two of ENO's Harewood Artists.

Jonathan Miller’s other directorial works for the ENO include Le Nozze di Figaro and Rigoletto. He counts a Special Tony Award, Knight Bachelor and CBE among his long list of awards.
Chris Hopkins conducts the production. Elaine Tyler-Hall is the Revival Director, Anthony van Laast is the Choreographer and Carol Grant is Revival Choreographer. Set design is by Stefanos Lazaridis, costume design comes from Sue Blane and lighting design is the work of Davy Cunningham.

This deliciously inventive and comical piece is a co-production with Houston Grand Opera and LA Opera. Put The Mikado on your 'little list' when it plays at the London Coliseum from 28 October 2019.

Sorry this show closed 30 November 2019.

Performance dates:
30 Nov 2019 - 30 Nov 2019
Running time:
3 hours and 20 minutes.
Age recommendation:
No under 5s
Audience Notes:
Fans of Richard Suart won’t want to miss his acclaimed performance as Ko-Ko. Gilbert and Sullivan devotees may well have seen versions of The Mikado already, but will certainly want to see Jonathan Miller’s innovative and show-stopping take on it.

Latest Audience Reviews

Last opportunity to see a Jonathan Miller directed masterpiece. Glorious show

Lovely revival of Jonathan Miller's show. Charming

Really excellent and classic show

Everyone knows it is a wonderful production!

Prefer a more traditional production.

Breathtakingly marvellous production, I went with another granny and two 11-year old girls who we... More

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