The Yeomen of the Guard at the ENO

Last Updated on November 4, 2022

Gilbert & Sullivan flourish at the Coliseum

This is the ENO’s first production of The Yeoman of the Guard and it is brilliant that the ENO is able to take on more of the Gilbert & Sullivan repertoire as the home of British Opera. Yeoman is thought to be the opera duo’s finest musical work and is much less saccharine than others in the repertoire, whilst remaining cheeky and upbeat.

The plot centres on the wrongful imprisonment of war hero Colonel Fairfax in the Tower of London. Schemes are afoot from the start: to save his fortune, a shotgun marriage; to save his life, an escape plan that involves disguising as one of the Yeomen. There follows, as one would expect, many narrative twists and turns before we reach the curtain call. The opera has two things in abundance: unrequited love and military uniforms (with matching pomp).

Director Jo Davies’s sets her production in the 1950s, just after Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation: drawing a comparison between 2022 as we have looked back at the long reign of Queen Elizabeth, with Gilbert & Sullivan’s era as the nation was celebrating another lengthy reign, that of Queen Victoria. After the Platinum Jubilee and the Queen’s state funeral earlier this year, the public perhaps has a taste for not only the nostalgia, but the rich military traditions that the production draws from. 

A projected BBC newsreel sets the mood of mid-century London, describing train strikes and turbulent politics that is sure to raise a laugh from the audience today as we are experiencing curiously similar events. The overall impression is relatable yet timeless, Davies cleverly able to tie together the Victorian era with the 50s and today. 

British tenor Anthony Gregory gives a bright and engaging performance as the fearless Fairfax, with a strong stage presence. ENO Harewood Artist Alexandra Oomens plays (one of) his love interests Elsie Maynard, returning to Gilbert & Sullivan after her performance as Josephine in last season’s HMS Pinafore. Oomens really shines throughout with a lovely tone of voice and tremendous ease that marks her out as one to watch.

Heather Lowe and John Malloy make up the unlikely romantic pairing of Phoebe Meryll and Tower gaoler Wilfred, both confident and characterful. The experienced supporting cast of Susan Bickley (Dame Carruthers), Neil Davies (Sergeant Meryll) and Steven Page (Lieutenant of the Tower) skilfully assist their younger costars.

Olivier Award winning Richard McCabe takes on his first operatic role, that of comedian Jack Point with great gusto. It is a very physical role with many a tongue twister to recite and rather a lot of singing for someone who is not a professional opera singer. Even still, McCabe gives it a good go, his acting spot on as one would expect from an Olivier Award winner.

Yeoman is thought to be the pair’s finest musical work, the overture notably takes a sonata form rather than an amalgam of the themes from the opera. Gilbert’s libretto is gloriously quick and clever – the surtitles are worth a look occasionally to help catch the intricate rhymes. The actors across the board did a brilliant job of keeping up with this merciless text. Conductor Chris Hopkins returns to the ENO for his fourth Gilbert & Sullivan production, fast becoming quite the expert and managing to keep all in line despite the tongue twisters.

Anthony Ward’s costumes are a gloriously uniformed affair: from the Yeomen themselves to the matronly housekeepers, all are suited and booted. There are even a couple of bearskin caps worn by tap-dancing royal guards that make an appearance. 

This new production strikes a deferential chord whilst still having a lot of fun. Yeomen is described as being more poignant and less upbeat than the other Gilbert & Sullivan operettas, which is true, and indeed not all the loose ends are tied up at the end (shockingly, one character is left unmarried!)  However, the music and lyrics succeed in delighting as one would hope, and it is wonderful to see Gilbert & Sullivan flourishing in the home of English Opera – long may it continue. 

The Yeomen of the Guard

3 November – 2 December 2022

English National Opera

London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane

London WC2N 4ES