ANGEL’s Bone
Two angels fall to earth and land in the middle of a broken marriage. Heaven help them.
Care becomes contempt and love becomes loathing in this dark, unsettling parable from contemporary composer Du Yun and librettist Royce Vavrek.
The Chinese-American composer, performance artist and activist won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Angel’s Bone, which is her second opera. In 2019, she was nominated for a Grammy Award. Breaking with operatic tradition, Angel’s Bone fuses multiple musical genres, spoken word and immersive staging in an uncompromising tale of modern slavery and human trafficking.
An English National Opera production in collaboration with Factory International and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, this UK premiere of the Pulitzer-prize winning opera will be staged at Aviva Studios, Manchester in May 2026. The chorus will be performed by Kantos Chamber Choir.
Royce Vavrek’s libretto explores the dark forces that drive people into the murky underworld of human trafficking. This is underpinned with Du Yun’s eclectic style, ranging from chamber music and cabaret to electronica to punk.
Director Kip Williams adds dynamic staging that immerses audiences in the production. By using projection and multiple viewing angles, Williams invites audiences to question their own part in the exploitation of the celestial beings.
MORE INFO
Running time: 90 minutes (no interval)
The audience will be standing throughout the show. Accessible seating and viewing areas for visitors with mobility impairments are available to pre-book when purchasing a ticket.
Please note this production depicts difficult themes including human trafficking, sexual exploitation, violence, drug, smoking and alcohol misuse, as well as death. We recommend reading our full advice on content before booking, which can be found on this page under Access: Advice on Content.
This show is still in creative development and may contain flashing lights. Please check back on the Factory International website closer to the date for further updates.
where & when
12th-16th May 2026 (specific dates and times here)
The Warehouse, Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester M3 4JQ
The PLOT
Mr and Mrs X.E, are a desperate couple facing financial crisis and a crumbling marriage and they long for a better life. When they discover the two bruised and battered angels in their garden, they bring them inside to nurse them back to life.
Care quickly turns to control. The couple seize the opportunity to exploit the spiritual beings in pursuit of fame and fortune. Brutally clipping the angels’ wings to exploit this heavenly gift, the celestial beings are subjected to degrading, inhumane practices.
the artists
An English National Opera production in collaboration with Factory International and BBC Philharmonic.
Director Kip Williams
Composer Du Yun
Librettist Royce Vavrek
Chorus Kantos Chamber Choir
Orchestra BBC Philharmonic