The Galway International Arts Festival will kick off next Monday – with a packed programme of theatre, circus, music, visual art, street art and spectacle, comedy and talks that look at who we are and what concerns us.

Running from Monday until July 28, the Festival will include its biggest music line-up to date, seven world premieres, a new visual arts Festival commission, exciting new theatre, a vibrant First Thought Talks programme and astonishing street spectacle.

Officially opening the festival next Monday is the world premiere of a new play Reunion by Mark O’Rowe, who turns his laser focus on the deep currents of family life with biting humour and insight, in a co-production between Landmark Productions and the Arts Festival.

A major new ensemble play, it stars a roll-call of Ireland’s finest actors – Ian-Lloyd Anderson, Cathy Belton, Venetia Bowe, Stephen Brennan, Leonard Buckley, Simone Collins, Desmond Eastwood, Valene Kane, Robert Sheehan and Catherine Walker.

Eímear Noone – the first woman to conduct the orchestra at the Academy Awards – will officially open the Festival at the opening night party at the Galmont Hotel.

She is best known for her work as an award-winning composer for video games including World of Warcraft and The Legend of Zelda.  Eímear had arranged the music for, and will conduct, the 28-piece orchestra at Stewart Copeland’s Police Deranged for Orchestra next Wednesday, celebrating the music of Copeland and The Police. The former Police drummer is expected to spend a few days in Galway at the Festival prior to his concert.

Other premieres include Unspeakable Conversations by Christian O’Reilly, starring Olivier Award-winning disabled actor Liz Carr and fellow disabled actor Mat Fraser, which will thrust the audience into the heart of a life-and-death debate in a provocative, funny and exhilarating new production.

The Map of Argentina by Marina Carr from Decadent Theatre tunnels into the complicated contours of family dynamics, pushing the boundaries of love, power and desire. It’s directed by Decadent’s artistic director, Andrew Flynn. Meanwhile, Dining Room is a new immersive theatre installation, part of the ongoing Rooms series, created by Enda Walsh and GIAF Artistic Director Paul Fahy.