Irish National Opera to premiere Colm Tóibín-written production at Galway International Arts Festival

Irish National Opera will be premiering the provocative Testament - composed by Tarik O’Regan with libretto by Colm Tóibín - at the Galway International Arts Festival this month.

Uniting two internationally celebrated artists in a work of striking emotional and dramatic power, Testament has three performances on Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July in the Bailey Allen Hall, Galway.

The production is adapted from Tóibín’s acclaimed novella The Testament of Mary, offering a profoundly intimate and unsettling portrait of Mary in the final years of her life as she confronts the events surrounding her son's death, shifting between immediate experience and memory to explore, grief, exile, and the contested nature of truth.

Critically acclaimed Irish mezzo-soprano Sharon Carty takes the central role of Mary, with soprano Deirdre Higgins as Martha. The cast also includes mezzo-soprano Sarah Luttrell, tenors Oisín Ó
Dálaigh & Ben Escorcio and baritone David Kennedy.

The newly commissioned opera brings together an exceptional Irish creative team, including GRAMMY-nominated conductor Elaine Kelly, who leads members of the Irish National Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Direction is by Rachael Hewer, with set design by Francis O’Connor, costume design by Joan O’Clery, lighting by Kevin Treacy, sound by David Sheppard and choreography by Emma Woods.

Tickets for Testament at the Galway International Arts Festival are currently sold out, though the production will also be running at the Gaiety Theatre as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival, from 8-10 October. Tickets go on sale on July 29. For more information, visit dublintheatrefestival.ie.

• Testament is presented in association with Galway International Arts Festival. Irish National Opera gratefully acknowledges the late Timothy King, whose generosity supported the commissioning of the work. The development of this opera was also supported by The British Council. Irish National Opera is funded by The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and receives support for international tours from Culture Ireland.