Allison Cook has returned to English National Opera with great success in her role as Mrs XE in Du Yun's UK premiere of Angel's Bone at Aviva Studios in Manchester.
Breaking with operatic tradition, Angel’s Bone fuses multiple musical genres, spoken word and immersive staging in an uncompromising tale of modern slavery and human trafficking.
“Allison Cook is relentless as Mrs X E, her supple mezzo embracing the melismatic vocal lines even as she metamorphoses into a Trumpian reality star.”
Clive Paget, The Guardian
“Marg Horwell’s set takes its cue from a showroom home, the mundane domestic backdrop against which Mr and Mrs XE (Rodney Earl Clarke and Allison Cook, both superb) descend into depravation, watched over by Keith Pun’s aloof angel.”
Rebecca Franks, The Times****
“Williams draws passionate and indeed horrible performances from Allison Cook as the stressed Mrs XE and Rodney Earl Clarke as the hard-done-by Mr XE.”
Nicholas Kenyon, The Telegraph
“Allison Cook, as Mrs XE dominated the singing with her every entry. Her portrayal of an amoral opportunist was frightening in its intensity. Malevolent throughout, she pushed her weaker husband to the most violent actions, rewarding him with only contempt. Indeed, her aria about her pathetic life justifying her subsequent actions underscored her self-belief that she had done no wrong. Her magnificent voice and purposeful acting stole the show.”
John Byrne, Seen and Heard International
“Cook’s monstrous Mrs XE is a true star performance, voiced with pitiless acerbity.”
George Hall, The Stage****
“The musical team brought together for this production is remarkable. Principally, Allison Cook as the scheming but vulnerable wife has some very wide-ranging tessitura to negotiate, as well as a huge gamut of emotion, which she does with great skill.”
Robert Beale, The Arts Desk
“Mrs X.E. is brought horribly to life in a powerhouse performance from Allison Cook”
Dianne Bourne, Manchester Evening News
Performances run in Manchester until 16 May, and further performances take place at the London Coliseum in October 2026.
Photo credit: Ellie Kurttz
