Carmen

Ellen Kent is bringing Carmen to Hull New Theatre on Thursday 4 February, as part of her Farewell Opera Tour. It's one of the big names on the city's early 2027 calendar, and it's a production that's been travelling across the country.

Carmen is one of the most famous operas in the world, and for good reason. It's Bizet's story of the free-spirited Carmen and the soldier Don José, set in Seville, and it's built around some of the most recognisable music in the repertoire — the Habanera and the Toreador Song are the ones that usually stick in your head long after the curtain goes down. If you've never seen it before, it's a good place to start with opera: the plot is straightforward, the music is melodic, and the drama is front and centre.

This particular production is part of Ellen Kent's Farewell Opera Tour, so it's one of the final stops on her touring schedule. Kent has spent years bringing opera to regional theatres, and Carmen is one of the staples of that tour. It's the kind of show that works as well for a first-timer as it does for someone who's seen it a dozen times.

Tickets are available through the official booking site at ellenkent.com/book-tickets. It's at Hull New Theatre on Thursday 4 February, so if you're planning to go, it's worth getting your seats sorted early.