Based on a true story from death row, Jake Heggie’s Olivier Award-winning opera brings a deeply moving true story to the stage. Imprisoned on Death Row for a horrific double murder, Joseph De Rocher turns to Sister Helen Prejean for spiritual guidance as his execution approaches. Despite warnings from her fellow sisters and prison staff, Helen agrees to help him. Caught between the unbearable grief of the victims’ families and De Rocher’s own desperate relatives, she strives to guide him towards a confession, regardless of the personal cost. Based on Sister Helen Prejean’s famous memoir – which also inspired the Oscar-winning 1995 film starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn – Dead Man Walking has become one of the most frequently performed operas of the 21st century. Heggie’s music and Terrence McNally’s libretto are performed live by the Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North. Sung in English with English subtitles, this acclaimed production offers a contemporary and hard-hitting evening of theatre which raises questions about the death penalty, justice and forgiveness. An Opera North co-production with English National Opera and Finnish National Opera.

Description supplied by the event organiser.