It will be directed by Kevin MacDonald, the Oscar-winning film director whose films include "Last King of Scotland" and "One Day in September." It will feature computer-generated imagery created by Oscar-winner Tim Webber and Framestore, the VFX team responsible for the film "Gravity," and technology by Rony Abovitz and Magic Leap

In a press statement, Professor Cox has commented, "The Age of Starlight will invite an audience to face the biggest questions about our existence, our place within the universe, and the origin of our universe itself, using new technology to create an experience beyond anything that has been possible before."

Alex Poots, CEO and artistic director of Manchester International Festival, adds, "MIF has assembled a remarkable group of people to tell a complex and beautiful story about where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going - in a completely new way. Over the last two years we have dreamed up a genuinely radical and truly experimental project, at the very limits of what is possible. It’s a risk, but it’s one worth taking."

The festival will run July 2-19, and the program will also include Tree Of Codes, a new contemporary ballet directed and choreographed by Wayne McGregor with music composed by Jamie xx and visual concept by Olafur Eliasson (running for seven performances at Manchester's Opera Hosue), and The Tale of Mr Tumble, a new theatre show for young children and families, in which Justin Fletcher invites audiences to step inside the colorful world of one of our most cherished TV characters (running for 14 performances at Manchester's Opera House.)

To book tickets, which are on sale from Nov. 20, contact the box office on 0844 871 7654, or visit www.mif.co.uk