Flight, the breakthrough opera by English composer Jonathan Dove, will be in Galway’s Town Hall Theatre on Saturday, September 9, in a production from Opera Collective Ireland, the company which won Best Opera at this year’s Irish Times Theatre Awards.

In collaboration with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, this production is also touring to  Dún Laoghaire and Cork.

With a libretto by leading English dramatist April De Angelis, the opera has both laugh-out loud and more serious moments as it follows the experience of a refugee who lives in an airport. Inspired by the true story of Mehran Karimi Nasser, an Iranian refugee who lived at Charles de Gaulle Airport Paris for 18 years, the story unfolds around the different characters who find themselves delayed in the terminal.

Since being commissioned by the Glyndebourne Opera Festival and receiving its debut performance there in 1998, it has had many different productions and more than 150 performances worldwide.

Written for an ensemble cast of 10 singers, this darkly witty opera, with its airport setting and orchestral writing, has been a massive success. Although it was composed more than 25 years ago, Flight continues to remain compelling and poignant.

The London Evening Standard said of the original. production, “Dove’s music flies, the opera is fun, and people are going to love it”.

The creative team for this production includes acclaimed director Stephen Medcalf, conductor Wyn Davies, set and costume designer Maree Kearns, and lighting designer Kevin Smith. They will be joined by a dynamic young Irish cast including Eoin Conway, Ami Hewitt, Roisin Walsh, Christopher Bowen, Anna Brady, Eoin Foran, Carolyn Holt, Jolyon Loy, Deirdre Arratoon, and Fionn Ó hAlmhain.

Flight will be at the city’s Town Hall Theatre on Saturday, September 9, starting at 8pm. Tickets €27/Concessions €24 can be booked online at www.tht.ie by phone on 091 569777 or at the box office.

Pictured: Soprano Ami Hewitt gets ready for take-off as Opera Collective Ireland launches the Irish premiere of Jonathan Dove’s Flight. PHOTO: Patrick Browne.