Woman & Machine

Woman & Machine is a ground-breaking binaural opera experience from Mercury-nominated songwriter ESKA, directed by Kirsty Housley. It tells the story of the three months artist Eska Mtungwazi spent in King’s College Hospital neonatal unit when her daughter, Wonder, was born at just 26 weeks.Incorporating the sonic worlds of the neonatal unit and the womb, with influences of contemporary, electronic and Zimbabwean Shona music, this new work connects themes of life, survival and womanhood.

Creator, composer and co-librettist Eska Mtungwazi is a vocalist, composer, choral conductor and producer whose genre- hopping career has included collaborations with artists such as Grace Jones, Zero 7, Tony Allen, Matthew Herbert, Bobby McFerrin, UNKLE and designer Rick Owens.

Alongside making international festival appearances, ESKA has had sold-out performances at Southbank Centre and the Roundhouse. Her self-titled debut album was Mercury-nominated and this is her first opera. ESKA made her professional acting debut in Kae Tempest’s Paradise at the National Theatre.

Co-produced and co-commissioned by Fuel and the Royal Opera House

Woman & Machine is supported by Arts Council England, the PRS Foundation and ENOA Opera Creation Journey