The Knife of Dawn Hannah Kendall and Tessa McWatt Portrait of an imprisoned poet The Knife of Dawn tells the compelling story of the Guyanese political activist and poet Martin Carter. This chamber opera zooms in on the twenty-eighth — and most critical — day of his hunger strike in protest at British rule. Which is the more effective way of serving his country: poetry or death? This operatic monologue by composer Hannah Kendall and librettist Tessa McWatt, both of whom have GuyaneseCaribbean roots, takes place in Martin Carter’s prison cell in 1953. He was incarcerated without charge because of his activities in the struggle for Guyanese independence. The Knife of Dawn gives a voice to Carter’s hope and despair — and the whole spectrum between those extremes — in an intense portrayal of the personal struggles and hallucinations of this politically engaged artist. Hannah Kendall (1984) is one of the leading composers of her generation. She has already built up an impressive inter- national résumé with her strong focus on political and social themes and her ability to combine complex orchestral sounds to create direct emotional impact. In addition to her work as a composer, Hannah Kendall teaches at Columbia University. Multi-talent Gavin-Viano This premiere will take place in Studio Boekman. This small venue of Dutch National Opera & Ballet serves as a place where talents are given room to flourish and experiment. The Knife of Dawn will be directed by Gavin-Viano. His work — which he develops in part through Frascati Productions and Het Nationale Theater — is known for its social urgency and its treatment of themes that are relevant to the Black community and human rights movement. New production Premiere 14/3/2026 Photo: Emily Denny Hannah Kendall 52 Opera Forward Festival
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