Home to the English National Opera, London's Coliseum has not always been so highbrow and has a proud history of staging variety shows to audiences of over 2000 people.

The ENO of course grew out of that other 'fringe' arts venue, at Sadlers wells, but it is a testament to the enduring popularity of Opera that they were able in the 1990s to acquire and lavishly restore their own building in the heart of the West End with only minimal government funding.

This is a beautiful venue and the ENO's programme of classic opera and ballet continues to draw big crowds.