Northern Ireland Opera has announced that it will present the world premiere of “Nobody / Somebody.”

The opera by playwright Fionnuala Kennedy and composer Neil Martin will open on March 3, 2023, at the Elmwood Hall in Belfast and features artists from Northern Ireland Opera and the Ulster Youth Orchestra.

“Nobody / Somebody,” which will be directed by Andrea Ferran, is inspired by the youth activists of the PPR organization who have worked to raise awareness about homelessness, housing stress, and the lack of available social housing for young people in Belfast. Matthew Quinn conducts with Sean O’Neill as the Movement Director and Marie Kirkby as Costume Designer.

“We’re excited to bring the world premiere of ‘Nobody/Somebody,’ a new opera commission inspired by incredible activists in Belfast campaigning for social housing. We can’t wait for audiences to find out more about the project at the Belfast Children’s Festival,” Kennedy noted about her first opera commission.

“For me, writing this opera has heightened some core universal issues that are more relevant today than ever. That its world premiere will be at the Children’s Festival here in Belfast is both an honor and wholly appropriate. We’re all very keen to share this work with audiences young, old and in-between,” added Martin.

Other performance partners for “Nobody / Somebody” include Young at Art and Springboard Opportunities.