Another exciting new opera premiere!

Avant-garde opera creator Mark-Anthony Turnage returns next March with a world premiere new work, based on the beloved and creepy story by award-winning novelist Neil Gaiman. Having previously brought us eyebrow-raising opera titles including Greek, The Silver Tassie and Anna Nicole, Coraline marks his first collaboration with The Royal Opera. So grab your yellow rain macs and star-patterned tops, when it heads to the Barbican next spring!

Having recently found success with the TV adaptation of his novel American Gods, Gaiman's twisted tale of childhood adventure and difficult parents is the latest work to see new life outside the pages. Published in 2002, it was awarded both the Nebula and Hugo awards for Best Novella, before being adapted into a stop-motion film directed by Henry Selick in 2009. This operatic adaptation will be helmed by Aletta Collins.

Wise. Be Brave. Be Tricky

Join Coraline Jones as she moves to the strange and dilapidated Pink Palace Apartments with her parents. Pre-occupied with their work, they leave her to explore her new home alone. Discovering a cast of odd neighbors and a peculiar black cat, she finds herself drawn into a mysterious Other World after being lured by a rag doll with buttons for eyes.

At first glance, the Other World seems much more comfortable than reality; here her parents are warm and attentive, even if they too have buttons for eyes. But when the Other Mother begs her stay, she uncovers a chilling plot that only she can solve!