Irish National Opera is set to deliver its second world premiere of 2019: This Hostel Life, by composer Evangelia Rigaki. Based on the short story collection by Melatu Uche Okorie, This Hostel Life reflects the experience of living in Ireland as an asylum-seeker under direct provision.

Rigaki’s experimental approach to music theatre sees opera meet performance art in the form of an installation opera: the audience make their own way through the performance area and encounter three singers (Amy Ní Fhearraigh, Rachel Croash, and Andrew Gavin), each paired with an instrumentalist (members of the Parabasis Ensemble). As they move deeper into the space the audience will also experience the sound of vocal ensemble New Dublin Voices. These four stories are performed simultaneously, and repeated, so audience-members are welcome to encounter and absorb this unique opera event in their own time.

Appropriately, the setting for this production from the Irish National Opera will be the crypt of Christ Church Cathedral Dublin, an institution which has itself contributed to debate on the ethics of the Irish asylum system through its guest speaker series ‘What’s the Story: Lives in Direct Provision’ and its ongoing relationship with the asylum seeker-led group Our Table.

Produced by award-winning director Caitríona McLaughlin, This Hostel Life runs for two performances only: on Thursday 26 and Saturday 28 September, running from 8pm to 10pm (the audience can arrive and leave at any point within those times).

Tickets: €15/€10

For more information and booking details visit Irish National Opera here