CARL JOHAN KARLSON is a director and writer, born in the suburbs of Stockholm. He grew up with his mom and twin sister, and amongst his mother’s high-heeled shoes, he found an ongoing interest in theatre and make-believe. Carl Johan received his education in directing from Stockholm University of the Arts in 2013 and worked for a couple of years as resident director at Riksteatern.
His work has varied from the great classics like Tennessee Williams “Cat on a hot tin roof” to modern comedies like “Good people” by Pulitzer Price winning David Lindsay Abbaire and his productions have without exception received great reviews.
He has also directed several productions for the younger audience. He wrote and directed “Vi som känner annorlunda” for the Oslo city theatre, a play about gay history. He has also directed opera; Massenet's “Don Quijote” at Folkoperan and the Swedish premiere of the Norwegian acclaimed author Arne Lygres poetic play "Mig nära". Carl Johan wants to widen his experience and is enthusiastically looking forward to directing for film and TV.
Carl Johan’s latest projects include “Älskad, Saknad” at Uppsala Stadsteater and this fall “Arv” (The Inheritance) premieres at Dramaten.
Carl Johan is currently working on his first feature; themed the awful sugar and dental experiments that took place on intellectually disabled patients at Vipeholm’s Hospital in the 40s in Sweden.
Selected works
Axel - feature in development
Vipeholm - tiden före framtiden - Stadsteatern - 2023
Arv - Dramaten - 2022
Sviten (as script editor) - Intiman - 2022
Älskad, Saknad - Uppsala stadsteater - 2022
Amadeus - Helsingborgs stadsteater - 2022
The cake - Malmö stadsteater - 2020
Mig nära - Helsingborgs stadsteater - 2020
Akta dig för Rödluvan - Örebro Länsteater - 2019
Don Quijote - Folkoperan - 2018
Kejsaren av Portugallien - Riksteatern - 2018 Richard Söderberg är Gaytenor - 2018 Constellations - Riksteatern - 2017 Good people - Riksteatern - 2017 Cat on a hot tin roof - Riksteatern - 2016
Blomma blad en miljard - Ung Scen Öst/Östgötateatern - 2015
Vi som føler annleis - Det Norske Teatret - 2015
Slutstadier - Stockholms stadsteater - 2013
Det normala livet - Örebro Länsteater - 2013
Våra föräldrars sexuella neuroser - Det Norske Teatret - 2012
awards & nominations
Falstaff-stipendiet - 2023
