2026.11.23 — 2026.12.05 · Coming soon
Peter Grimes — Tokyo
Fifty years after Britten’s death, the New National Theatre stages Peter Grimes, the opera that made his name at its London premiere in 1945. In an English east-coast fishing village, the solitary fisherman Grimes is suspected by the villagers of killing his apprentice and driven to the edge. This is Robert Carsen’s production from La Scala, first seen in October 2023, with Brandon Jovanovich again in the title role, Sally Matthews as Ellen and Kazushi Ono conducting the Tokyo Philharmonic. Five performances from 23 November to 5 December, all at 2pm, run about 3 hours 15 minutes with intervals, sung in English with Japanese and English surtitles. Tickets are JPY 8,250–31,900.
Peter Grimes made Britten’s name at its London premiere in 1945, and this year marks 50 years since his death.
It is set in an English east-coast fishing village like his home town of Aldeburgh, where a solitary fisherman is suspected of killing his apprentice. The music carries the swell and storms of the sea and the turmoil inside the characters.
This is Robert Carsen’s production first staged at La Scala in October 2023, a modern reading that brings the violence of crowd psychology to the fore.
Brandon Jovanovich, the Grimes of that premiere, sings the role again, and it is Carsen’s first production at the New National Theatre.
The villagers are the chorus, and the theatre calls its New National Theatre Chorus the other lead of the piece.
Kazushi Ono conducts the Tokyo Philharmonic, with Sally Matthews as the widow Ellen and Jordan Shanahan as Captain Balstrode.
Checked · 2026-10-04
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1968 · Hans Wild (High Fidelity) · Photo source · Public domain · Preview cropped; enlarge for full image. · Report image rights
The opera depicts a child’s death, abuse and violence, and strong light is directed at the audience.
About 3 hours 15 minutes; no preschool children.
The cheap Z seats see little of the stage.
The Opera Palace has fixed seating; GoWoah has no plan for it yet, and the theatre publishes a seating PDF. Some wall-side and upper-level seats have partial views.
Open official guide ↗Photos from this show come first; those from other shows may have a different stage and obstructions.
10 GoWoah points if accepted
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Monday 23 November (holiday), Thursday 26, Sunday 29 November, Wednesday 2 and Saturday 5 December 2026, all at 2pm with doors at 1.15pm, about 3 hours 15 minutes with intervals (Tokyo time).
Asia/TokyoThe New National Theatre is at 1-1-1 Honmachi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. Hatsudai Station on the Keio New Line (through service to the Toei Shinjuku Line) connects directly from the central exit; Keio Line trains do not stop there.
No preschool children; each school-age child needs a ticket. Late entry is restricted. Sung in English with Japanese and English surtitles. The opera depicts a child’s death, abuse and violence, and strong light is directed at the audience.
JPY 8,250–31,900
Confirm accessibility services and companion policies with the organiser before travel.
Dates and entry details refer to this edition; individual sessions may differ.
Alan Stanton · CC0 Image source
New National Theatre Tokyo
Maggi Hambling’s Scallop, a tribute to Britten on the beach at Aldeburgh, August 2010; the opera is set in an east-coast fishing village like this. Not the production.
Information checked on 2026-10-04
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