Dead Man Walking

Dead Man Walking description

New for 2025/26 and premiering at ENO in its 25th anniversary year. Witness ENO’s unmissable new production of Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally’s powerful operatic drama, which follows a death row inmate in his final days and the pursuit of truth that puts a nun’s faith to the test.

Overview

Joseph De Rocher faces death by lethal injection for the brutal and senseless murder of two teenagers. While Joseph refuses to accept his guilt, we follow the religious and personal struggles of Sister Helen Prejean. She offers him spiritual guidance and witnesses the unbearable pain felt by the victim’s families, who’ve been left devastated by Joseph’s horrific and unforgivable crimes.

Will Sister Helen succeed in getting the confession the families deserve? Or will Joseph maintain his innocence to the very end?

Staging & Score

Based on a true story from the memoir of Sister Helen and adapted into an Oscar-winning film starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn, the conflicting drama plays out behind the bars of a high-security United States prison.

Contrasted by a beautiful and poignant score composed by Jake Heggie – Musical America’s 2025 Composer of the Year – Dead Man Walking is the most widely performed opera of the 21st century.

BSL Signed:

• Wednesday, 12th November, 7:00pm

Playing at London Coliseum

St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4ES GB (venue info)

Directions