The Handmaid’s Tale serves as a cautionary tale that forces reflection on whether America’s core values—freedom and separation of church and state—are at risk.

“Once, my body belonged to me.” The Handmaid’s Tale provides a chilling look into an imagined future, where America’s fragile democracy collapses into religious tyranny. Echoing contemporary concerns about the overlap between government and religion, this fictional story is timelier than ever.

Within the frame of an academic conference held in the distant future, the opera depicts a contemporary America in the throes of a theocratic dictatorship where women have been stripped of all rights, including the right to bodily autonomy.

Before Margaret Atwood’s beloved classic of speculative fiction became the source material of a popular TV series, Poul Ruders’ gripping musical treatment brought the story to operatic stages around the world. It comes to Detroit in a fast-paced production you will not forget.