Vivian J. Coates

Returning from abroad having worked in most of the opera companies in the UK, Vivian Coates has spent much of his career in Ireland nurturing and presenting young Irish talent on stage and guiding them on their first professional rung of the ladder. He is recognised for the tireless work he has done in keeping core opera alive in this city.

He is privileged to be able to mix his opera productions with his love for musical theatre directing and designing in most of the main theatres in Ireland which include The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, The Grand Opera House, Belfast, The National Opera House, Wexford and the National Concert Hall, Dublin. Opera productions include Aida, Il Trovatore, Don Giovanni, Hansel und Gretel, I Due Foscari, La Traviata, Carmen, Nabucco, Macbeth, La Bohéme. Turandot, Suor Angelica, The Turn of the Screw, Rusalka, Cavalleria rusticana, Madama Butterfly, Attila and many others.

With many musical theatre projects in his repertoire, Mr Coates has received extraordinary accolades for his recent work with The International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Harrogate receiving five star reviews (The Stage & The Daily Mail) for three of his productions. In 2015 he designed two sets for The Music of Northern Ireland, which received 4 EMMY’S in the 2016 roll of honour. In 2007 he was honoured to receive a Knighthood and title of Cavaliere by the Italian Government for his work in presenting Italian opera in Ireland.

Recent productions include Sweeney Todd (The National Opera House). This Christmas he will direct the family favourite The Wizard of Oz here at the NCH.