James Bonas

A traditional storyteller for the modern age, James Bonas combines imagination and intellect with a curiosity for technology and new forms, whether directing classical or contemporary theatre, opera or dance.

Current opera productions include Stephen Sondheim’s Company (Génération Opéra), Jules Massenet’s Manon (Theater Magdeburg), Die Zauberflöte (Göteborg Opera), Leonard Bernstein’s Candide (Welsh National Opera) and the French premiere of Hans Abrahamsen’s Snow Queen (Opéra national du Rhin) with regular collaborator, animator Grégoire Pont.

Dance projects include ongoing collaborations with choreographers such as Helen Pickett and Sophie Laplane. Recent projects with Helen include Lady Macbeth (Dutch National Ballet), Crime and Punishment (American Ballet Theatre), Emma Bovary (The National Ballet of Canada) and The Crucible (Scottish Ballet). In collaboration with Sophie Laplane, in 2025 he created the highly-acclaimed Mary, Queen of Scots (Scottish Ballet and Edinburgh International Festival), which tours this season throughout the UK and the US, as well the celebrated short film Dive, filmed during lockdown.