Peter Grimes
Deborah Warner’s staging foregrounds the vulnerability and volatility of the shunned Peter Grimes, and the tragic conflict between the individual and group. Starring Allan Clayton, Bryn Terfel and Maria Bengtsson, conducted by Music Director of The Royal Opera Jakub Hrůša.
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Peter Grimes was last on 28 May 2026.
Guidance
Suitable for ages 12+
This production contains themes of child cruelty, the death of a child and depictions of suicide. There are flashing lights in Act I.
Language
Sung in English with surtitles, which are displayed on screens above the stage and around the auditorium.
Generous support from
Exceptional philanthropic support from
Royal Ballet and Opera Principal The Julia Rausing Trust
Season Principal
Generous philanthropic support from
The Britten Production Syndicate and Royal Ballet and Opera Patron
In loving memory of
Dr Richard Phillips
A co-production with
Teatro Real, Madrid, Teatro dell'Opera di Roma and Opéra National de Paris
Synopsis
Peter Grimes, a fisherman in a small coastal town, is accused of mistreating his apprentice, who has died under mysterious circumstances at sea. Though cleared of legal guilt, he faces the judgment and hostility of the villagers. Determined to prove himself, Peter takes on another young apprentice. But against the harshness of the sea and increasing pressure from the village, his fragile grip on reality begins to crumble. Tragedy strikes again when the second apprentice dies. Consumed by guilt and madness, the alienated Peter returns to the sea.
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Creatives
The artists and creatives behind the production
Music
Libretto
Director
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Choreographer
Discover
Deborah Warner’s (Billy Budd, Wozzeck) stunning, contemporary and Olivier Award-nominated staging – which had its premiere in 2022, as part of The Royal Opera’s Britten Cycle – illuminates the humanity of the shunned Grimes, while Britten’s evocative score pulses with dread and tension as the villagers close in on their troubled outcast.
Benjamin Britten
Britten’s work is often characterised by its emotional richness, technical brilliance and ability to connect human drama with larger natural and social forces. Reoccurring elements – thematic motifs, atmospheric orchestration and psychological insight – infuse his operas with layers of meaning, allowing for deeper exploration into the minds of his protagonists. Though his music for Grimes is rooted in tonality, Britten frequently employs dissonance to heighten tension and portray psychological complexity. Listen out for Peter Grimes’s aria ‘Now the Great Bear and Pleiades’, which uses unconventional harmonic shifts to reflect the fisherman’s alienation and inner turmoil. For more on Britten’s music and work, explore our Britten Creative Spotlight.
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Access and resources
Listen to an Audio Described introduction for Peter Grimes on SoundCloud
View a visual story for visiting the Royal Opera House (PDF, 12.0 MB)
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Watch subtitled information on attending a performance on the Main Stage on YouYube
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