Reality television: ENO’s Angel’s Bone in Manchester

Allison Cook (Mrs XE) and Rodney Earl Clarke (Mr XE) in Angel’s Bone

Angel’s Bone at Aviva Studios, Manchester

Mariam Wallentin (Girl Angel) in Angel’s Bone

Keith Pun in Angel’s Bone

Allison Cook (Mrs XE) and Kantos Chamber Choir in Angel’s Bone

Matthew McKinney (Boy Angel) and Mariam Wallentin (Girl Angel)

By Lawrence Dunn, 13 May 2026

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“they revel, yelp, shag, snort cocaine, throw sandwiches about, piss up the walls, vomit into bins”

Reviewed at Aviva Studios, Manchester on 12 May 2026

Du Yun, Angel's Bone (UK premiere)

English National Opera

Kip Williams, Director

Marg Horwell, Set Designer

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

Kantos

Allison Cook, Mrs XE

Matthew McKinney, Boy Angel

Rodney Earl Clarke, Mr XE

Mariam Wallentin, Girl Angel

Keith Pun, Countertenor

ENO’s Mahagonny: biting, bleak, brilliantly executed satire

David Karlin, 16th February

Never has Brecht and Weill’s satire on the inhumanity of man to man been render with such utter darkness; Simon O’Neill heads up a superb cast.

*****

Taken for a ride: an energetic revival of Così fan tutte at ENO

Dominic Lowe, 6th February

English National Opera's revival of Phelim McDermott’s popular production is a blend of spectacle with some first-class singing, with Lucy Crowe emphasising her Mozartian credentials.

****1

Cocteau-esque camp: Alden’s Partenope returns to ENO

Mark Valencia, 20th November

Christopher Alden’s Olivier Award-winning production of Handel’s Partenope returns to the Coliseum, but it's the singing that earns the plaudits.

****1

Dead Man Walking at English National Opera: a superb execution

David Karlin, 1st November

Anneliese Miskimmon's ENO production of Jake Heggie and Terence McNally's tale of crime, repentance, compassion and redemption compels from start to finish.

*****

Comedy falls flat in ENO's season opening Cinderella

Mark Valencia, 27th September

Julia Burbach and her designer, Herbert Murauer, are defeated by the wide canyons of the Coliseum stage in their modern-dress Cinderella.

**111

ENO gives Thea Musgrave's Mary, Queen of Scots a worthy performance

Nick Boston, 15th February

Musgrave's powerful depiction of a powerful woman at the mercy of male manipulation receives a strong staging from at ENO.

****1

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Lawrence Dunn

Lawrence is commissioning editor at Bachtrack. He is a composer, improviser, pianist and writer. He has taught at Cambridge, Huddersfield and Sheffield universities. He has written music for, among others the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Modern, Slagwerk Den Haag, Philip Thomas, Juliet Fraser, Ilya Gringolts, Plus-Minus, Exaudi, Apartment House and Explore Ensemble.

Reality television: English National Opera’s Angel’s Bone in Manchester