Commissioned by Wales Millennium Centre for Festival of Voice and Yorkshire Festival in association with Warwick Arts Centre. Funded by Arts Council England & Arts Council Wales. Supported by the Fidelio Trust and Hinrichsen Foundation. Development commissioned by Warwick Arts Centre and funded by Arts Council England & PRSF for Music Foundation. Developed in association with Opera North Projects.

300 years from now. World economies have failed. The human vestiges of earth are scattered and defenseless, pursued by flood and famine. Aphra, the last hope for life has two weeks to live.

In 2016 a group of women from around the world are drawn together by an unearthly power, to forge a future for their planet. Can their mission alter Earth’s course and save Aphra?

Written, directed and co-composed by award-winning sound artist, Melanie Wilson, with critically acclaimed Polish composer Katarina Glowicka; Opera for the Unknown Woman was a bold re-imagining of the operatic form, weaving together theatre, contemporary classical music, electronics and film. The talented ensemble included Patricia Rozario OBE and Adey Grummet (Jerry Springer the Opera, Mr Burns).

This science fiction, multi-media opera channels a performance of vivid imagination and passionate politics into an exhilarating call to action.

Produced by Fuel

Commissioned by Wales Millennium Centre for Festival of Voice and Yorkshire Festival in association with Warwick Arts Centre. Funded by Arts Council England & Arts Council Wales. Supported by the Fidelio Trust and Hinrichsen Foundation. Development commissioned by Warwick Arts Centre and funded by Arts Council England & PRSF for Music Foundation. Developed in association with Opera North Projects.

Written, directed and co-composed by Melanie Wilson
Co-composed by Katarina Glowicka
Projection design by Will Duke
Set and costume design by Fly Davis
Lighting by Kristina Hjelm
Movement direction by Carolina Valdes

Original Cast included:
Abigail Kelly
Adey Grummet
Alexia McIntosh
Calie Hough
Eugenia Georgieva
Kate Huggett
Miriam Gould
Patricia Rozario
Peyee Chen
Sophie Gledhill
Wendy Woon
Yael Clare Shahmoon

Image by Manuel Vason @DARC.media and Stem Design