
WORLD PREMIERE
Dates
16-21 Mar 2024
Location
Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Main Stage
Running time
1:30, no interval
Tickets
From € 16

A crisis of responsibility
In 2021, a Dutch court ruled that Shell was legally responsible for its contribution to climate change. In The Shell Trial, the various voices in the climate debate are heard and it becomes increasingly clear that we will not make any progress by endlessly pointing the finger at one another. The message of this topical opera is that the climate crisis is above all a crisis of responsibility.
Photo: Marta Syrko
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Performance information
Sung in English
Music Ellen Reid
Libretto Roxie Perkins; based on the play De zaak Shell by Anoek Nuyens, Rebekka de Wit, Frascati Producties and De Nwe Tijd
Musical direction and co-creation Manoj Kamps
Stage direction, concept and co-adaptation Gable Roelofsen and Romy Roelofsen
Set design Davy van Gerven
Lighting design Jean Kalman
Dramaturgy Willem Bruls, Saar Vandenberghe, Jasmijn van Wijnen
The Government Claire Barnett-Jones
The Consumer Anthony Leon
The law / The Artist Julia Bullock
The CEO Audun Iversen
The activist Ella Taylor
The climate refugee Carla Nahadi Babelegoto
The Historian Jasmin White
The weatherman Erik Slik
The elementary school teacher Nikki Treurniet
The pilot Alexander de Jong
The fossil fuel laborer Allen Michael Jones
The Farmer tba
Nieuw Amsterdams Children’s Chorus (part of Nieuw Vocaal Amsterdam)
Children's choir conductor Anaïs de la Morandais
Academists and members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Commission by Dutch National Opera, in co-production with Het Geluid (Maastricht), Opera Philadelphia and Bregenz Festival
Based on the prizewinning play
De zaak Shell
The lawsuit against Shell
The case against Shell was won by the environmental organisation Milieudefensie and supporting individuals in 2021. Shell lodged an appeal against the ruling, which will be heard in court in 2024 – the same year as the world premiere of The Shell Trial.
Ticket prices
Check out the ticket prices per price category via the link below. Youths up to 35 can attend this performance for only €25,00 (including booking fee), regardless of which price category is ordered.
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Composer Ellen Reid on The Shell Trial
Composer Ellen Reid on The Shell Trial

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is one of the world’s top orchestras. Since it was founded in 1888, it has worked with leading conductors and soloists. Klaus Mäkelä is the orchestra’s artistic partner and will become its chief conductor in 2027. The orchestra plays around eighty concerts a year in the Concertgebouw and forty in other prestigious venues. It also reaches music lovers around the world with its videos, streaming, radio and TV broadcasts, CDs and DVDs.
Photo: Simon van Boxtel
Introduction
An introduction will take place 45 minutes before the start of this performance, during which an expert will give background information and offer interesting perspectives on the performance, allowing you to get even more out of your theatre visit. The introductions are given in Dutch. They can be visited for free and without reservation, by showing your ticket for the performance.
Introduction The Shell Trial by: tba
Location: Souterrain