Opera North: Dead Man Walking

Imprisoned for a horrific double murder, Joseph De Rocher asks Sister Helen for spiritual guidance as he awaits execution on Death Row. Despite the misgivings of the sisters of her mission and members of the prison staff, Helen agrees to his request. Caught between the pain and grief of De Rocher’s family and the families of his victims, Helen attempts to lead De Rocher to a confession of his terrible crimes, whatever the emotional cost to herself. Dead Man Walking is based on the memoir by Sister Helen Prejean (as was the 1995 film starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn). It has become one of the most frequently performed operas of the past 25 years. This co-production with English National Opera, Opera North and Finnish National Opera won Best New Opera Production at the Olivier Awards following its November 2025 performances with ENO, and now comes to audiences in the North with Opera North.