Martin Constantine has been appointed Artistic Director of Streetwise Opera⁩ in Cardiff.

Constantine will join the organization in January 2022 and will lead the artistic team to create and deliver an ambitious and inclusive program co-created with people recovering from homelessness.

In a statement, Constantine said, “I am so thrilled to be joining Streetwise Opera and feel deeply honored to have the opportunity to work with this incredible team at such an important time. I am a firm and passionate believer in the power of music and theatre to transform how we see ourselves and each other. Streetwise Opera has been creating powerful and impactful work to support people who are homeless or recovering from homelessness for nearly twenty years. I can’t wait to begin collaborating with the entire Streetwise Opera community to create extraordinary work that challenges perceptions of homelessness and empowers people affected by homelessness to realize their creative potential.”

Additionally, Cathy Graham OBE, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Streetwise Opera, said, “We are tremendously excited that Martin, a theatre and opera director of the highest caliber, is taking on the full-time role as Artistic Director. Throughout his career, he has been the driving force behind high-profile productions that are artistically ambitious and that bravely explore how new groups can take ownership of opera. Martin will work closely with our newly appointed CEO, Rachael Williams, to lead the company into an exciting future.”

Constantine is an award-winning theatre and opera director, who has worked with such companies as the Almeida, Royal Opera House, Bristol Old Vic, Chichester Festival Theatre, Early Opera Company, Shanghai Opera House, English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, Royal Shakespeare Company, Storyhouse, and Grange Park Opera. He is currently International Chair of Directing at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where he has been part of the team launching the new Opera School with Welsh National Opera.