"Wilkie has an excellent and refined understanding of the pace, timing and quality of opera... the interplay between his craft and what's happening in the orchestra pit is stunning."
- Jessica Baron, The New Zealand Hook (Cavalleria rusticana/Pagliacci, 2020)
A B O U T
John Leo Wilkie, from Scotland, is a director of opera and theatre. He is now based in the UK and New Zealand, and has directed new productions for companies such as New Zealand Festival Opera (La traviata, 2019; Cavalleria rusticana/Pagliacci, 2020), Opera Holland Park (Il segreto di Susanna, 2019; The Bear, 2021), Danish National Opera (La Cenerentola, 2016), Classical Opera (Bauci e Filemone / Orfeo, 2019), Wiltons Music Hall (Die Fledermaus, 2018), and Popup Opera (La tragédie de Carmen, 2018).
His production of Il segreto di Susanna for Opera Holland Park was described by The Spectator as being "So perfect, so spirited, so loving... it's probably never had a UK production more affectionate than John Wilkie's new staging". It was nominated for Best Production at The International Opera Awards 2021, and The Times and The Stage named it as one of the best opera productions of 2019 .
John has recently joined the New Zealand Festival Opera artistic team as Principal Stage Director, after directing celebrated productions of La traviata (2019) and Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci (2020) for the company. This coming 22/23 season, he will direct new productions of Die Zauberflöte and The Cunning Little Vixen for them. Before that, he will revive his production of Madama Butterfly for Opera Bohemia at the Perth Arts Festival 50th Anniversary, and will then return to Denmark to direct Trouble in Tahiti for Den Fynske Opera.
His production of Il segreto di Susanna for Opera Holland Park was described by The Spectator as being "So perfect, so spirited, so loving... it's probably never had a UK production more affectionate than John Wilkie's new staging". It was nominated for Best Production at The International Opera Awards 2021, and The Times and The Stage named it as one of the best opera productions of 2019 .
John has recently joined the New Zealand Festival Opera artistic team as Principal Stage Director, after directing celebrated productions of La traviata (2019) and Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci (2020) for the company. This coming 22/23 season, he will direct new productions of Die Zauberflöte and The Cunning Little Vixen for them. Before that, he will revive his production of Madama Butterfly for Opera Bohemia at the Perth Arts Festival 50th Anniversary, and will then return to Denmark to direct Trouble in Tahiti for Den Fynske Opera.
As associate, revival, and assistant director, John has worked with, among others, Tim Albery, Alessandro Talevi, Marie Lambert, William Tuckett, and Jay Schieb at companies such as The Royal Opera House, Danish National Opera, Garsington Opera, Scottish Opera, Opera Holland Park, Opera North, Welsh National Opera, and OperaUpClose.
He also works as a dramatic coach, and has directed productions, and has facilitated stagecraft workshops with the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at The Royal Opera House, Scottish Opera Young Artists, Garsington Opera's Alvarez Young Artist Programme, New Zealand Opera Young Artists, Opera North Youth Chorus, The Southrepps Music Festival, London Goldsmiths University, and New Zealand’s celebrated Project Prima Volta students.
John is a founding member of the acclaimed Opera Bohemia, an opera company dedicated to creating opportunities for young professional artists in all areas of opera, and producing more operatic performances across Scotland. He has directed celebrated productions of La bohème, Lucia di Lammermoor, Madama Butterfly, Eugene Onegin, and The Merry Widow for the company - all of which have premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe before touring nationally.
He grew up in Scotland where he trained as an actor. Subsequently, he undertook a trainee director programme at The National Theatre, was a Young Artist Director at Garsington Opera and Opera Holland Park, and also trained extensively with Complicite Theatre Company.
John's work has been supported by The National lottery, Creative Scotland, and The Arts Council, England.
He also works as a dramatic coach, and has directed productions, and has facilitated stagecraft workshops with the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at The Royal Opera House, Scottish Opera Young Artists, Garsington Opera's Alvarez Young Artist Programme, New Zealand Opera Young Artists, Opera North Youth Chorus, The Southrepps Music Festival, London Goldsmiths University, and New Zealand’s celebrated Project Prima Volta students.
John is a founding member of the acclaimed Opera Bohemia, an opera company dedicated to creating opportunities for young professional artists in all areas of opera, and producing more operatic performances across Scotland. He has directed celebrated productions of La bohème, Lucia di Lammermoor, Madama Butterfly, Eugene Onegin, and The Merry Widow for the company - all of which have premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe before touring nationally.
He grew up in Scotland where he trained as an actor. Subsequently, he undertook a trainee director programme at The National Theatre, was a Young Artist Director at Garsington Opera and Opera Holland Park, and also trained extensively with Complicite Theatre Company.
John's work has been supported by The National lottery, Creative Scotland, and The Arts Council, England.
"So perfect, so spirited, so loving... it's probably never had a UK production more affectionate than John Wilkie's new staging."
- Richard Bratby, The Spectator (Il segreto di Susanna, 2019)