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Kolja Schallenberg is the world’s only director trained and working across opera, theatre, musical theatre and circus as well as working in concert, and immersive theatre.

Kolja is an internationally trained and award-winning director, playwright, producer, 

and artistic director with over twenty years of experience across youth theatre, 

spoken theatre, musical theatre, opera, and contemporary circus. 

Born in 1984, he has worked in private theatres, city and state theatres, touring and 

independent productions, as well as within large institutional structures — always in 

close dialogue with audiences, ensembles, and the communities in which the theatre 

operates. His productions have reached hundredthoursands of spectators worldwide.

Artistic Vision and Leadership

Kolja’s work is defined by an interdisciplinary and audience-centered artistic language, 

combining strong visual expression with psychological and dramaturgical depth. 

As a queer and neurodivergent artist, he has developed a leadership style rooted in empathy, 

trust, clear structures, and teamwork. For him, freedom of expression, diversity, equality, and 

inclusion are not abstract ideals — they are lived values, practiced daily with his team in the 

rehearsal room and on stage. Through his roles as director, writer and artistic director he has 

received numerous awards and recognitions, particularly for his new work. 

International Experience

Kolja has studied and worked across a wide spectrum of performing arts, including opera, theatre, 

musical theatre, dance, concerts, and circus. His productions have been performed across Germany, 

Sweden, London (West End and Off-West End), and even on the seven seas. Notable touring shows 

include World of Musicals, A Musical Christmas, and Massachusetts (featuring original members of the 

Bee Gees live on stage). He also created the first officially approved James Bond and More show.

In his career he has worked with prestigious companies such as Theater Dortmund, Musiktheater im 

Revier, Stage Entertainment (Casting), National Thalia Theatre Hamburg, National Theatre Nürnberg, 

National Theatre Bochum, AIDA Entertainment, The Hippodrome London, and The Other Palace London. 

His own productions have been praised internationally, earning multiple awards and nominations, and 

his work has been featured in German, Swedish, and English media.

Education and Training

Kolja’s training spans opera singing (Music School Dortmund), Management and Producing 

(Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg), Directing theatre and musical (Mountview 

Academy of Theatre Arts, London), Directing circus (Stockholm University of the Arts) and 

Directing opera (Royal Opera Academy/ Stockholm University of the Arts). He has also 

participated in masterclasses at Shakespeare’s Globe, London, and studied adult education 

at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern.

Recognition

His work has received acclaim from press and critics alike. The Westphalian Observer called 

his directing “Impressive!”, WD Radio praised his “incredible sense of space,” and SLA 

described his musical Tre kvinnor as “Success — you want to see it again and again.” 

BritishTheatre.com highlighted his productions Dr Faustess – A New Musical and Mary Stuart (

Queen of Scots) as inventive and worth close attention, while Rabatt described Songbook: 

Bryan Adams as “a whole new and amazing entertainment concept.” Broadway World 

declared SOT–GjutRock “Better than the ’80s.”