Northern Ireland Opera today unveils the first cast and creative team for the company’s performance of Georges Bizet’s Carmen. Directed by Artistic Director Cameron Menzies, this grand-scale production marks the national company’s first-time staging of Bizet’s definitive work at Belfast’s Grand Opera House in September. This visceral story of passion and defiance is viewed through a contemporary lens to illuminate its deep relevance today.
NORTHERN IRELAND OPERA PRESENTS
GEORGE BIZET’S CARMEN
Directed by Cameron Menzies. Music Director Greg Arrowsmith
Featuring the Chorus of Northern Ireland Opera and the Orchestra of Northern Ireland Opera
12, 15, 17, 19 September 2026
Artistic Milestone: Directed by Artistic Director Cameron Menzies, this striking new production marks Northern Ireland Opera’s first-ever staging of Carmen.
Acclaimed Return & Rising Star: Harlem-born tenor Noah Stewart makes a popular return to Belfast as Don José, starring opposite rising star Ruby Dibble in her role debut as Carmen.
Home-Grown Star Power: The production features celebrated local talent, including sopranos Mary McCabe (Tatyana in Eugene Onegin), Petra Wells (Young Heidi in Follies), and mezzo-soprano Jenny Bourke (Filipeyvna in Eugene Onegin).
New Musical Arrangements: Music Director Greg Arrowsmith returns following last year’s smash hit Follies with exclusive arrangements crafted for an intimate on-stage instrumental quintet.
Creative Reunion: Set designer and longtime collaborator Niall McKeever marks his sixth collaboration with the company.
Vital Community Panel: Northern Ireland Opera will host Behind the Curtain, a panel led event which thoughtfully explores historic operatic tropes to confront issues of gender-based violence and safety.
Northern Ireland Opera today unveils the first cast and creative team for the company’s performance of Georges Bizet’s Carmen. Directed by Artistic Director Cameron Menzies, this grand-scale production marks the national company’s first-time staging of Bizet’s definitive work at Belfast’s Grand Opera House in September. This visceral story of passion and defiance is viewed through a contemporary lens to illuminate its deep relevance today.
The company welcomes back Harlem-born tenor Noah Stewart, a firm favourite with Belfast audiences. No stranger to the Grand Opera House stage, Stewart revisits the city following his towering performances as Rodolfo in La Bohème and Alfredo in La Traviata in 2021 and 2022 respectively. As a recording artist he has topped the UK Classical Album Charts and earned widespread international plaudits for his versatility. For this brand-new staging, he interprets the unravelling obsession of Don José, an iconic signature role opposite rising star, Carnegie Hall debutant, and Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition national finalist Ruby Dibble, who steps into one of opera’s most iconic roles as the fatalistic, fiercely independent Carmen.
Bringing local star power to Bizet’s masterpiece are three Northern Ireland Opera favourites. Celebrated soprano Mary McCabe portrays Micaëla, infusing the role with lyrical warmth and dramatic vulnerability. Completing Carmen’s mischievous inner circle are mezzo-soprano Jenny Bourke as Mercédès and soprano Petra Wells as Frasquita, whose mesmerising duet of ‘One More Kiss’ with Lesley Garrett in last year’s Follies guarantees an exceptional showcase of home-grown talent. Further casting will be announced shortly.
Artistic Director Cameron Menzies says: “Great opera should move, challenge, and delight audiences in equal measure, and few works achieve that balance more successfully than Carmen. I have wanted to direct Carmen for many years, but I have always felt that it is a piece that demands the right moment. For Northern Ireland Opera, that moment is now. It is a work packed with extraordinary music, complex characters, and some of the most thrilling chorus writing in the repertoire. Over the last five years, we have been quietly building our exceptional chorus towards this challenge.
However, this production is also an urgent opportunity to look at this tragic story through a modern lens, using our stage to confront the historic trope of the tragic heroine and address the vital, real-world conversations surrounding gender-based safety today.”
Steering the musical vision is Greg Arrowsmith, who returns to the company as Music Director following his triumphant direction of Follies last year to lead the 37-strong Northern Ireland Orchestra. Elevating the production’s music narrative, Arrowsmith has also crafted new arrangements specifically for a unique instrumental quintet, who will perform in partnership with the orchestra in the pit. This in-character on-stage ensemble will add an intimate, immersive layer to the opera’s legendary score.
The production’s visual and physical world is shaped by a stellar contingent of Northern Ireland Opera’s creative collaborators, including set designer Niall McKeever. Marking his sixth major collaboration with the company, McKeever, an Irish Times Theatre Award nominee for Into the Woods, brings his signature bold and large-scale vision to Belfast’s Grand Opera House, following celebrated designs for Follies, Eugene Onegin, Tosca, and La Traviata. Joining him is West End choreographer Jennifer Rooney (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Into the Woods, Once), who returns to craft the production’s dynamic movement. This creative team also includes the return of lighting designer Jake Wiltshire, with Nuala Campbell lending her expert eye as wig and make-up designer.
Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music and Opera, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, says: “The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is proud to be principal funder of Northern Ireland Opera who make their return to the Grand Opera House stage this September for Bizet’s operatic masterpiece, Carmen. The work this company produces is outstanding, critically acclaimed, award-winning, and truly has an excellent international reputation. The company not only offers lead roles to professional local singers but also provides opportunities for members of NI Opera’s Chorus Development Programme to grow their artistic talent by working alongside world-class talent. I highly recommend you see the show and support the work of this incredible company.”
Northern Ireland Opera will also host Behind the Curtain, an exclusive panel discussion on Thursday 20th August. Featuring live musical extracts from Carmen alongside a diverse line-up of voices, the event opens vital conversations regarding violence against women and girls. By confronting historic operatic tropes of the tragic heroine, this essential forum hosted by women’s rights advocates, explores the deep topical necessity of these stories coming to life on our stages today. Further details will be on Northern Ireland Opera’s website later this month.
Listings information
Venue: The Grand Opera House, Belfast
Dates: 12, 15, 17, 19 September
Time: 7.30pm, 19 September (matinee 2.30pm)
Prices: From £32.50 to £65 including booking fee.
Booking Link: https://www.goh.co.uk/whats-on/carmen
Address: Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7HR
Box office: 028 9024 1919
Twitter: @NIOpera Insta: @northernirelandopera Facebook: @NorthernIrelandOpera
First Cast
Ruby Dibble: Carmen
Noah Stewart: Don José
Mary McCabe: Micaëla
Jenny Bourke: Mercédès
Petra Wells: Frasquita
Creatives
Cameron Menzies Director and Costume Designer
Greg Arrowsmith Music Director/New Arrangements
Niall McKeever Set Designer
Jennifer Rooney Choreographer
Jake Wiltshire Lighting Designer
Nuala Campbell Wig and Make-Up Designer
Previous Praise for Northern Ireland Opera’s work
Winner Best Production – Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards 2022 for Into The Woods. The only time a musical production has won this award in 30 years of the awards existing.
‘A tour de force’ 4 Stars,Irish Times, Grand Opera House Belfast, 2024 (Eugene Onegin 2024)
‘Thrills and chills in Northern Ireland Opera’s stirring new production.’ 4 StarsIrish Times (Tosca 2023)
‘An intelligent new production from NI Opera of Puccini’s masterpiece is full of vocal intensity’ Opera Now (Tosca 2023)
‘Northern Ireland Opera’s La Traviata suggests that the artistic director Cameron Menzies has at long last realised the region’s ambition to have a grand opera company truly deserving of the name.’ Opera Magazine (La Traviata 2022).
‘One of the Classical Music highlights of 2022’ La Traviata ranked no. 2 in The Observer, December 2022.‘Opera at its Finest’, 5 Stars. Opera Now Magazine, Dec 2021 at Belfast’s Carlisle Memorial Church (La Bohème, September 2021).
Ruby Dibble
Mezzo-soprano Ruby Dibble is a studio member at the Oper Frankfurt, where her roles include Isaura (Tancredi), Kate Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), Sandmännchen (Hänsel und Gretel), and Un Musico (Manon Lescaut). She graduated from Juilliard, Curtis, and Oberlin and is an alumnus of young artist programs at Santa Fe Opera, Merola, Wolf Trap, Glimmerglass, and Aspen. Her roles include Sesto (La Clemenza di Tito), Blanche (Dialogues des Carmélites), Elle (La Voix Humaine), and Prince Charmant (Cendrillon).
Ruby made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2024, and performed at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Ruby was the third-place winner and Samantha Hankey Nova Award recipient of the 2026 Zenith Opera Competition, a 2025 George London competition finalist, a 2024 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition national finalist, the first place winner of the 2024 Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition, a 2024 Marcella Sembrich International Voice Competition finalist, and the second place winner of the 2023 Cooper-Bing Competition.
Noah Stewart
Noah Stewart is an internationally acclaimed operatic tenor celebrated for his vocal brilliance, magnetic stage presence, and charismatic artistry. A native of Harlem, he began his musical journey at the Harlem School of the Arts and later studied at the Juilliard School. Early in his career, he gained performance experience through educational television and earned First Prize at the New England Music Competition. Renowned for his interpretations of the Romantic Italian and French repertoire, Stewart has performed at many of the world’s leading opera houses, concert halls, and festivals.
His Decca debut album topped the UK classical charts for seven consecutive weeks and received two Classical BRIT Award nominations. He has collaborated with distinguished conductors and composers including Lorin Maazel, John Adams, Julius Rudel, and Daniele Rustioni. A sought-after concert and recording artist, Stewart continues to captivate audiences worldwide through performances that combine technical mastery, dramatic intensity, and a compelling artistic presence.
Mary McCabe
Mary McCabe is a soprano hailing from Downpatrick, N.Ireland. With Northern Ireland Opera she has performed many roles, for example: ‘Tatyana’ in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onégin (Grand Opera House), ‘Violetta’ (cover) in La Traviata (GOH), and ‘Elle’ in their production of Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine (touring multiple UK theatres). Mary featured in the award-winning film ‘Old Friends and Other Days’ directed by Cameron Menzies.
Last year Mary toured England and France with Diva Opera as ‘Contessa’ in Mozart’s ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’ and continues touring this year as ‘Mimì’ in Puccini’s ‘La Bohème’. A frequent recitalist and concert soloist Mary has performed multiple times with the Fews Ensemble (Newry Chamber Music), RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Ulster Orchestra. Mary graduated First Class in Music and French from QUB and with Distinction in her Masters degree from RCS. An award-winning performer on the operatic, oratorio and recital platforms, Mary has performed both nationally and internationally to critical acclaim.
Jenny Bourke
Jenny is a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Based in Northern Ireland, she balances an active singing career with her work as an established vocal tutor and Vocal Health First Aider.
Jenny joined Northern Ireland Opera in 2022. Her roles with the company include the Stepmother in Philip Glass’s The Juniper Tree and her 2024 mainstage debut as Filipeyvna in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. Her extensive operatic repertoire also spans performances with Castleward Opera, RCS, and Opera Fringe, featuring roles in La Traviata, Tosca, and Così fan tutte.
Her concert work has taken her to New York, Beijing, and Paris. In 2026, she joined Arcangelo for Handel’s Saul and toured Europe with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Her upcoming engagements include tours of Handel’s Messiah alongside Le Concert d’Astrée, the LA Philharmonic, and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
Jenny can be heard singing on the album Sweet Chance with harpist Tanya Haughton on all major streaming platforms.
Petra Wells
Petra is a soprano based in Belfast. She trained under Professor Robert Alderson whilst studying Law (University of Manchester) and continues training with Graeme Danby, London. This is Petra’s fifth year with the Chorus Development Programme. Roles for NI Opera include Young Heidi in Sondheim’s ‘Follies’ opposite Lesley Garret CBE as Heidi, the role of Daughter in Glass/Moran’s ‘The Juniper Tree’ with chorus roles: ‘Eugene Onegin’, ‘Nobody/Somebody’, ‘Tosca’, ‘La Traviata’ (Study Cover – Annina), ‘La Bohème’, ‘Die Fledermaus’.
Petra has been a featured soloist across NI including Morning Melodies at the Grand Opera House, Rosemary Street Summer Recital Series, Red Sails Festival Portstewart and Walled City Music Festival Derry. Petra made her Ulster Hall solo debut in 2024 celebrating the Lord Mayor of Belfast’s tenure. Petra was a finalist in the 2023 Glenarm Festival of Voice, receiving training from Dr Ingrid Surgenor, Professor Mark Wildman, Simon Lepper and Ben McAteer.
Creative Biographies
Cameron Menzies
Award-winning director Cameron Menzies is recognised internationally for creating bold, visually striking productions that combine theatrical imagination with powerful storytelling. His work spans opera, music theatre, theatre, cabaret and film, with productions seen throughout the UK, Ireland, Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa and the United States.
His recent productions for Northern Ireland Opera, including Into the Woods, La Traviata, Tosca, Eugene Onégin and Follies, have attracted widespread critical acclaim. Into the Woods won Best Production at the Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards, while his work has played a significant role in Northern Ireland Opera’s growing national and international profile, contributing to the company’s nomination for the Equal Opportunity and Impact Award at the International Opera Awards. Passionate about championing artists and opening opera to new audiences, Cameron creates productions that are visually compelling, emotionally resonant and rooted in the belief that great opera should be dynamic, relevant and accessible to everyone.
Greg Arrowsmith
Greg’s extensive career in theatre, concert, film and television includes 21 West End productions, 10 UK tours, 3 world tours and numerous concerts. Recent credits include:
Come Alive The greatest Showman Circus Spectacular – London & Australia (Music Supervisor), The Rocky Horror Show – World Tour (Music Supervisor), Meow Meow “She’s back” – Berlin (Pianist), Follies – Belfast Grand Opera House (Musical Director), Ciphers – Tete a tete opera festival (Composer), Sheherazade with BBC NOW – Hoddinott Hall (Conductor and new arrangements), Songs for nobody’s – Ambassadors Theatre (Musical Director and new arrangements), Women on the Verge of a nervous breakdown – Playhouse Theatre & Cast album (Musical Director) and 9 Pantomimes at the London Palladium. Films include Rocketman, Paddington 2 and Sunlit Dust. Greg has performed for both HRH Queen Elizabeth II and HRH King Charles at Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace respectively.
Niall McKeever
Upcoming credits include: Lourdes! The Musical (Xnthony for Dublin Theatre Festival)
Recent theatre credits includes: Donbas (Theatre 503); Follies (Northern Ireland Opera); Making History (Everyman Theatre, Cork); The Brightening Air, Oedipus (The Old Vic); Waiting for Godot (West End); The Tragedy of Richard III (Lyric Theatre, Belfast); Eugene Onegin, Tosca, La Traviata and Into the Woods – winner of Irish Times Irish Theatre Award for Best Production (N.I. Opera, Belfast); Translations (National Theatre); Peter Pan (Gate Theatre, Dublin); Statements after an Arrest under the Immorality Act – won the JMK Award – and Yellowman (Orange Tree); The Dry House (Marylebone Theatre); Under the Kundé Tree (Southwark Playhouse); This Beautiful Future (Jermyn Street Theatre); and Into the Woods (His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth). www.niallmckeeverdesign.com
Jennifer Rooney
Jennifer is a choreographer and movement director with over 25 years experience.
TV and Film: Walk the Blue Fields, Derry Girls (series 2 and 3), How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (series 1), World on Fire (series 2), Old Friends and Other Days (Northern Ireland Opera), Flight (BBC & One Dance Uk), Lark (NI Screen)
Musical Theatre: Follies (Northern Ireland Opera), Jack Frost (MAC, Belfast) Murder for Two (Bruiser Theatre Company), Fun Home & Piaf (The Gate Dublin), Good Vibrations (Lyric Belfast & IAC New York), Into the Woods (West Australian Opera & Northern Ireland Opera).
Opera: Eugene Onegin, The Juniper Tree & La Boheme (Northern Ireland Opera), La Traviata, Rigoletto & L’elisir d’amore (Diva Opera).
Associate movement Director: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Palace Theatre London), Once (Coex Theatre Seoul), Truth (Helen Chadwick Company, UK Tour), Once (Dublin, Seoul & Pitlochry) Resident Movement Director: Once (Phoenix Theatre, London), Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Palace Theatre, London).
Jake Wiltshire
Jake designs extensively both in the UK and Worldwide. His work has been seen with major opera companies and festivals including The Royal Opera House, New Zealand Opera, Savonlinna Opera Festival, and St. Galler Festspiele, as well as nearly all of the UK’s top music conservatoires. Internationally, he’s worked throughout Europe, North America, and Asia in a variety of venues from traditional proscenium arch theatres to unique site-specific spaces.
He won the ‘Outstanding Achievement in Opera’ Award at the 2026 Profile awards and in 2009 he was made an Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (HonARAM). Recent credits include: The Old Maid and The Thief for the Spoleto Festival USA; Madame Butterfly a co production between Irish National Opera and Scottish Opera; Follies, for Northern Ireland Opera; Susanna for Opera North; L’Olimpiade, (2025 Olivier Award Nominee for Best Opera) a co-production between the Royal Opera House, Irish National Opera and Fribourg Nouvel Opera.
Nuala Campbell
Nuala Campbell is a Belfast-based Hair and Makeup Designer with over 15 years’ experience in opera, theatre, film and fashion. Her recent work for Northern Ireland Opera includes Follies(2025), Eugene Onegin (2024), Tosca (2023), La Voix Humaine (Everyman, Cork), La Traviata, La Bohème and Don Giovanni. She has collaborated with leading theatres across Ireland and the UK, bringing expertise in period styling, wigs and character-driven design. Nuala began her career internationally in fashion, working at shows in London, Milan, Tokyo and Paris, with her work published in Vogue. Her approach focuses on collaboration, ensuring hair and makeup design supports both performer and production.
Northern Ireland Opera
As Northern Ireland’s national opera company, we are the only professional company in the country producing full scale work on stage and which celebrates and platforms Northern Irish artists, for audiences from their local communities and beyond. We contrast this with nimble smaller scale high quality opera productions which we tour to communities across the country where there is low/no classical music provision. From teenagers experiencing their first opera, to those with a lifelong love of the artform; our critically acclaimed produced work engages audiences in a unique opera experience rooted in a country with a rich history of music.
We are building a community of local and international singers, musicians and creatives and supporting them to develop their craft and progress their professional pathways. Our approach instils generosity as well as aspiration and collaboration as we draw on, invest in and contribute back to our local communities. We capture imaginations and provide the space and tools for people to explore their creative skills and potential. Every person who participates with us, whether as a member of our Northern Ireland Chorus Development Programme, a participant on a creative workshop or Skills Expo session, is given the personalised support which will enable the most impactful outcomes.
About The Grand Opera House The Grand Opera House is Northern Ireland’s Premier Theatre, and the only surviving Victorian playhouse in the country. With a stunning and recently restored Frank Matcham auditorium and a wide range of productions staged throughout the year, the Theatre is one of the best-loved and most important cultural assets in Northern Ireland
