Welsh National Opera - Bluebeard's Castle and Oedipus Rex

Welsh National Opera - Bluebeard's Castle and Oedipus Rex tickets in Oxford

Welsh National Opera pairs Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle with Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex in a single unified staging at New Theatre Oxford. Both works share the same stark setting and are sung in Hungarian and Latin with English and Welsh surtitles. The performance runs approximately two hours forty minutes.

Two operas, one world

The double bill opens with Bluebeard's Castle, in which Judith abandons her former life to live with the enigmatic Duke Bluebeard. His home contains a succession of locked doors, and as she insists on opening each one, she exposes not merely the secrets of his past but something altogether more disturbing. Love and fear become indistinguishable as the work moves towards its dark conclusion.

The same setting then becomes the ancient city of Thebes for Oedipus Rex. A plague afflicts the land, and its king pursues the cause with growing obsession. The search for truth becomes a confrontation with an inescapable destiny, turning what begins as a civic investigation into a devastating personal revelation.

Audience considerations

Welsh National Opera recommends the production for ages twelve and above. Surtitles in both English and Welsh are projected throughout, so familiarity with Hungarian or Latin is not required to follow the drama.

Dates, venues and booking links

These are the dates listed by ATG as checked on 21 September 2026. A date range may contain selected performances, rather than a show every day. Open your chosen venue link for exact times, seats and current prices.

Choosing your tickets

Start with the venue and date that suit your trip, then compare the seats offered by ATG. Check the final total, any restricted-view information and the ticket conditions before paying. Availability and prices can change; the listed run dates do not guarantee seats for every performance.

ATG lists a running time of 2 hours 40 minutes. Confirm the performance time and any interval information when booking.

Plan your theatre visit

Our venue guides cover getting there, seating and access information: New Theatre Oxford. If you need accessible seating or an assisted performance, check the arrangements for that venue and date with ATG before booking.

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