British director William Relton returns to Opera på Skäret to direct Giuseppe Verdi’s Macbeth in the summer of 2027. With a background in both theatre and opera and a long international career, he will take on Verdi’s musical and dramatic interpretation of William Shakespeare’s tragedy.
When Macbeth premieres at Opera på Skäret on 31 July 2027, William Relton will be directing the production. He has worked as an opera director for more than 25 years, directing productions in the UK, Sweden, Germany, France, Denmark and Norway, among other countries. Relton is already a familiar name at Opera på Skäret. In 2014, he directed Verdi’s Otello, returning in 2018 to direct Don Carlo. The summer of 2027 will therefore mark the third time he has directed a Verdi opera at Opera på Skäret.
From Shakespeare to Verdi
William Relton’s stage career began as early as 1971, when, at the age of 14, he made his professional acting debut as an actor in London’s West End. A few years later, he discovered the world of opera and began training his tenor voice. He went on to work as both a singer and actor before turning to directing.
Relton has a background in both theatre and opera. As an actor, his roles have included Shakespeare’s Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He now takes on another of Shakespeare’s works, this time through Giuseppe Verdi’s operatic adaptation of Macbeth.
“Verdi loved Shakespeare and knew his works well. He created three masterpieces based on Shakespeare’s works, and Macbeth was the first. He created two fascinating, compelling leading roles and wrote magnificent music for the ensemble. I can’t wait to “raise the roof” at Skäret with this great work. And talking of threes, this will be my third production there. That bodes well” says William Relton.
A Long International Career
William Relton began his career as an opera director in 1993, when he stepped in at short notice to take over the direction of a production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte. The experience proved decisive for his future career, and the following year he began working as a freelance opera director.
Since then, he has directed a wide range of works, including The Barber of Seville, La Bohème, Turandot and Don Giovanni. His career has included work with English National Opera as well as opera companies and festivals across Europe. In Sweden, in addition to Opera på Skäret, he has worked at Drottningholm Palace Theatre, Läckö Castle Opera and Vadstena-Akademien. He has also worked extensively with the training of young opera singers at conservatoires and opera schools across Scandinavia and the UK.
Macbeth in Summer 2027
Giuseppe Verdi’s Macbeth is based on William Shakespeare’s tragedy of the same name and tells a story of power, ambition and guilt. In the summer of 2027, the opera will come to life once again in the old timber warehouse by Lake Ljusnarn in Bergslagen.
Macbeth will be performed at Opera på Skäret from 31 July to 29 August 2027, with opening performances on 31 July and 1 August. Tickets for all performances are now on sale.