Biography
English director John Fulljames was Associate Director of Opera for The Royal Opera 2011–17. He has directed La donna del lago, Quartett, Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny and Orphée et Eurydice, co-directed with Hofesh Shechter, for The Royal Opera. In the 2017/18 Season he directs a new production of The Return of Ulysses for The Royal Opera in the Roundhouse.
Fulljames was appointed Director of Opera at the Royal Danish Theatre in 2017. He was Artistic Director of The Opera Group (now Mahogany Opera Group) 1997–2011. He worked closely with a wide range of composers and librettists to develop, commission and produce new operas. His productions for The Opera Group include Neuwirth’s American Lulu (also Scottish Opera and Bregenz Festival), Bruce’s The Firework Maker’s Daughter (also Opera North, New Victory, New York), Langer’s The Lion’s Face, Benjamin’s Into the Little Hill and Dove’s The Enchanted Pig (also for ROH2, New Victory, New York, and Young Vic). Many of the company’s productions have been performed in the Linbury Studio Theatre.
Other productions include Nabucco in Nancy, La clemenza di Tito, The Snow Maiden,From the House of the Dead and Roméo et Juliette for Opera North, The Adventures of Mr Brouček for Opera North and Scottish Opera, Where the Wild Things Are and Julietta for Theater Bremen, Von Heute auf Morgen and Sancta Susanna for Opéra de Lyon, Gianni Schicchi and Eine florentinische Tragödie for Greek National Opera, Così fan tutte for Garsington Opera and American Lulu and Das Portrait for Bregenz Festival. He has extensive experience of working with communities and young people, and has directed many productions involving large-scale participation, including Tobias and the Angel (Young Vic) and Knight Crew (Glyndebourne). His production of Weill’s Street Scene for the Young Vic won Best Musical at the Evening Standard Awards and was performed at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, and the Liceu, Barcelona.
News and features
Opera Essentials: Ravi Shankar’s Sukanya
Our quick introduction to this world premiere from a music icon.
Could you create an opera for the Royal Opera House?
Applications close soon for the MA in Opera Making and Writing and Doctoral Composer-in-Residence programmes at Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
Applications open for Guildhall School's MA in Opera Making & Writing
Masters programme for aspiring composers and writers allows participants to focus on how new opera is created, developed and performed.
Posts by John Fulljames
Changing opera for the better: If you love opera, share your ideas (and your frustrations)
Theatre company Improbable’s ‘Devoted and Disgruntled’ events aim to advance opera as an art form through open discussion and debate.
Why opera's future is more diverse than its past
Opera is reinventing itself and creating a more relevant, inclusive and dynamic art-form in the process.
Help us shape the future of opera
Join us for a weekend of passionate discussion and informal conversation, connecting with others who care about the art form.
Photos
John Fulljames

Executive and artistic staff of the Royal Opera House at the 2012/13 Season launch

Colin Lee, Juan Diego Flórez and John Fulljames in rehearsal for La donna del lago

John Fulljames and Michele Mariotti in rehearsal for La donna del lago

John Fulljames and members of the Royal Opera Chorus in rehearsal for La donna del lago
