Skepta and Idris Elba set to perform at Manchester International Festival 2019

Yoko Ono, Idris Elba and Skepta have all been confirmed to perform at next year's Manchester International Festival.

Ono will open the two-week festival with 'BELLS FOR PEACE', where she will gather 8,000 members of the public in Cathedral Gardens to ring and sing out for peace, and welcome people to Manchester.

While Luther star Idris Elba has co-written a musical that explores the history of South Africa in the wake of apartheid. Alongside the new Artistic Director of London's Young Vic theatre, Kawme Kwei-Armah, Elba has provided the soundtrack for the world-premiere production.

TREE will be performed at the Upper Campfield Market.

Idris Elba said:

“Kwame and I have both had a strong desire to work with each other for a long time now; we’ve known each other since we were in our very early twenties and have talked about the kernel of an idea for this show for a while.

"Our joint ambition being to make a piece of work inspired by South Africa, using the album Mi Mandela as a starting point.

"We’ve both experienced personal moments of healing connected with the country and we’re starting to explore that together. For me, an interesting part of the process is looking at the next part of the story; the new universe that sprung up after Mandela.

"To be able to investigate that with Kwame, a writer with such tremendous vision for whom I have great respect and love, and within the artistic community of MIF, is something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time.”

While rapper Skepta will be performing in a secret location, promising a 'waking dream of the future: deep, dark, radical and riveting'.

MIF Artistic Director and CEO John McGrath said:

“I’m thrilled to be announcing the involvement of such extraordinary artists in Manchester International Festival 2019. Yoko Ono will be creating a very special opening event for Mancunians - and the world - in the city centre: a joyful response to our complicated times.

"Idris Elba is one of the most dynamic creative figures working today, and in this new collaboration with the wonderful Kwame Kwei-Armah, he brings his vision and passion to a brand-new piece of musical theatre.

"And Skepta, an artist known for pushing musical boundaries, is going to be surprising everyone with a vision of the future that is immersive, high tech and personal."

Tickets will go onsale to MIF Members at 10am on Monday 29th October with general onsale at 10am on Thursday 1st November.