Rehearsal images released for HMS PINAFORE starring Mel Giedroyc

Emmie Newitt 14 November, 2025, 09:29

Directed by acclaimed comedy director Cal McCrystal, the former Great British Bake Off host and national treasure Mel Giedroyc will star in the production by the English National Opera in December, making her ENO debut.

hms pinafore rehearsal images The cast of ENO'S HMS Pinafore. Photo by Craig Fuller

This sparkling production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s nautical love triangle-themed opera HMS Pinafore returns to the London Coliseum this winter, which will be revived for the first time since its premiere in autumn 2021.

Following his success in The Yeomen of the Guard and Così fan tutte, award-winning British bass baritone Neal Davis returns to ENO to play the Rt. Hon Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the Admiralty. He is joined by ENO-favourite and G&S expert John Savournin as Captain Corcoran, while his daughter Josephine is played by Harewood Artist Henna Mun. The love triangle is completed by able-seaman Ralph Rackstraw played by Thomas Atkins.

Singing the role of Josephine in the 24, 29 and 31 January matinee performances of this run is up-and-coming soprano Eleanor Sanderson-Nash.

Set and costume design for HMS Pinafore is by Olivier Award nominee takis and sound design is by Dominic Bilkey. Tim Mitchell is the production’s Lighting Designer, with Ian Jackson-French as the Revival Lighting Designer. Lizzi Gee is the Choreographer and Spencer Darlaston-Jones, who also appears on stage as a dancer and in a non-singing acting role, is the Associate Choreographer.

The cast is completed by Bethan Langford, Trevor Eliot Bowes, Rhonda Browne, Marcus Farnsworth, Nicholas Crawley.

HMS Pinafore will be conducted by Matthew Kofi Waldren, former Mackerras Conducting Fellow, who previously conducted ENO’s Olivier Award-nominated production of Blue.

It will play at the London Coliseum for 12 performances from 4 December 2025 to 7 February 2026.

HMS Pinafore Tickets