PHILIP ZANDÉN ACTOR & DIRECTOR BIOGRAPHY
Philip Zandénis a multifaceted Swedish actor and stage director. Since his breakthrough in 1981 as Mozart in the play Amadeus at Stockholms Stadsteater, he has appeared in several classic theatreplays and in numerous film and television productions. With his extensive theatre experience and musical heritage, it was not a long step to start directing both theatre plays and opera. He is now an established director with a wide and impressive track record in opera, musicals and theatre.
Philip Zandén’s current and recent highlights as a stage director include: the contemporary musical If Then, by Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt, at Malmö Opera, American Idiot, a musical theatre about the American punk band Green Day at Malmö Opera and Circus in Stockholm, the debut at the Royal Opera in Stockholm with Don Pasquale (Donizetti), the musical Leva livet (Living life) at China Theater in Stockholm, Taken at Midnight, by Mark Hauhurst, at Stockholms Stadsteater, Diplomati by Cyril Gely and Sarah Bernhardt by John Murrell, Art, a play by French Yasmina Reza, at Stockholms Stadsteater, Job’s sufferings by Hanoch Levin at The Jewish Theatre, , an acclaimed production of Strindberg’s The Father at Stockholms Stadsteater.
Recent highlights as an actor include: the role Tevje in Fiddler on the roof at Malmö Opera, Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd, he also both directed and played the lead role in the play Markurells at Stockholms Stadsteater, the portrait of Olof Palme in a newly written piece at Stockholms Stadsteater.
During the 00s, he directed numerous sets for theater, opera and musicals in Sweden and abroad. Above all, he worked at the Stockholms Stadsteater: Berlin (Hare, 2009), Brott och brott (Crime and crime, Strindberg, 2009), Allt om min mamma (All
About My Mother, Adamson,
Figaro (de Beaumarchais, 2006), Fordringsägare (Creditors, dockhem (A Doll’s House, Ibsen, 2002).
2008), Det går an (JL Almqvist, 2008), Le nozze di 2007), L’ecole des femmes (Molière, Strindberg, 2005), Hamlet (Shakespeare, 2004), Ett
In 1995, Philip Zandén made his operatic directorial debut with Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail at Intima Teatern in Malmö. In opera and musicals he has directed West Side Story by Bernstein (China Theatre, 2006) and The Barber of Seville by Rossini (Norrlandsoperan 2004).
In the late 90s, Philip Zandén was theater manager and artistic director of the Malmö Music Theatre and has appeared in and directed several of the house’s productions during these years. For example, The Magic Flute by Mozart, Putte Hågen and Dåliga människor by Wiehe/Andersson and The Beggar’s Opera by Pepusch/Gay. He has also directed A Doll’s House at Gladsax Theatre in Copenhagen, and Cabaret (Kander/Ebb) for the Riksteatern (Sweden).
Philip Zandén was born in Gothenburg and sang as a young man in the radio boys’ choir. He comes from a musical family; Grandpa is Gösta Nyström, composer to Sinfonia del Mare, Songs of the sea and the opera Herr Arne’s money. After studies at Scenskolan in Malmö, he came to Stockholms Stadsteater 1979. He had his breakthrough in 1981 with Amadeus, a show where he impressed with his acting and piano playing. He has since then been featured in many of the theatre’s sets: Crime and Punishment, The Marriage of Figaro, Pygmalion, The Threepenny Opera, The Master and Margarita, among others. Philip Zandén has been praised for his efforts in directing and acting. In 2002 he received the Thalia Prize for the role of Albert Speer in the play Speer at the Gothenburg City Theatre.
Movies in selection: The Guardian Angel, Mozart Brothers, Amorosa, Freud leaves home, Guest Oskar Suddenly, Van Veeteren-Wallander and Beck movies.
