Scottish Opera - Madama Butterfly

Scottish Opera - Madama Butterfly tickets in Glasgow

Scottish Opera presents Puccini's Madama Butterfly at Theatre Royal Glasgow in a new co-production with Irish National Opera. Directed by Daisy Evans and designed by Kat Heath, the production frames the opera as a journey through memory and identity rather than an aestheticised tragedy, and comes to Scotland following its run in Dublin.

The story and this production's approach

Cio-Cio-San, a young woman, marries US Navy Lieutenant Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton, setting aside the warnings of those close to her. When Pinkerton eventually returns, she is ready to introduce him to his son, but his arrival brings only devastation.

Evans and Heath treat the work as a meditation on inherited burdens, concealed truths, and the cost of confronting them, refusing, as the source puts it, the bargain of finding beauty in a woman's destruction. Jake Wiltshire provided the lighting and Catherine Fay the costumes. Evans and Heath previously worked together on Scottish Opera's Albert Herring in 2024.

Cast and practicalities

Sunyoung Seo, previously seen in Scottish Opera's Il trittico in 2023, sings Cio-Cio-San. Andrés Presno takes the role of Pinkerton, Lea Shaw, who appeared in L'heure espagnole in 2025, plays Suzuki, and Phillip Rhodes, seen in La traviata in 2024, sings Sharpless.

The running time is two hours and twenty-five minutes, including a twenty-minute interval. Surtitles are used throughout to reinforce key dialogue and lyrics. The production carries an age guidance of 12 and above. An audio-described performance and a touch tour are scheduled at Theatre Royal Glasgow; consult individual listings for their specific dates and times.

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 35 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: Theatre Royal Glasgow. 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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