The Shining

The Shining
Genre
Opera
Date
22 Aug - 7 Oct 2026
Stage
Storan
Price
255 - 985 kr
October 2026
Sun 4 Oct 16.00
Available
Wed 7 Oct 19.00
Available

Welcome to Overlook Hotel, a charming turn-of-the-century house nestled deep in the Rocky Mountains. But don’t be fooled by its idyllic façade. This place carries a bloody history, and sinister forces lurk in the shadows, so whatever you do – do not enter Room 217.

The Shining is written by the Pulitzer Prize–winning duo Paul Moravec (music) and Mark Campbell (libretto). The opera is based on Stephen King’s iconic 1977 cult novel of the same name, one of the most popular and enduring horror stories of all time.

Horror is not the most common opera genre, but fear not - the audience will be treated to a psychological drama filled with creeping unease, hallucinations, and nightmare visions that send shivers down your spine!! 

We have a wonderful cast with Peter Kajlinger and Cornelia Beskow in the lead roles, and the conductor is our acclaimed principal guest conductor Patrik Ringborg.

The British director Keith Warner is responsible for the production, as one of the foremost stage directors of our time. He has staged over 150 operas in 20 countries, written three opera librettos, and has among other credentials served as artistic director of Opera Omaha in Nebraska.

Plot

Jack Torrance has lost his teaching job and seeks refuge in a picturesque old resort hotel in the Rocky Mountains together with his wife Wendy and their son Danny.

The family is to take care of the hotel while it is closed for the winter. Jack hopes it will give him the peace and quiet he needs to finish a play he is working on, help him overcome his alcoholism and aggression, and allow him to devote himself to his family.

But the old house harbors dark secrets. Evil spirits awaken, and slowly but surely their calm oasis turns into a nightmare. Danny, who has a sixth sense, is tormented by horrific visions. Jack becomes obsessed with the hotel’s bloody history and changes, growing  increasingly violent.

It is soon clear that the family must escape if they hope to get out alive. But a snowstorm makes the roads impassable, and when Jack smashes the only radio they have for communication, they suddenly find themselves completely isolated from the outside world…

GenreOpera in two acts
PremiereAug 22, 2026
Plays until7 Oct 2026
StageStoran
Language

English, with Swedish and English surtitles

Duration

Approx. 2 hours 25 minutes including interval

AgeFrom 13 years
Surtitle Screen
Lower edge of the stage
Audio Description
Sep 6. 2026
Book
Wheelchair seating
Book via bokning@malmoopera.se

The Shining is a collaboration between Malmö Opera and  The Finnish National Opera and Ballet in Helsinki.”

Creators

Music
Paul Moravec

Libretto
Mark Campbell

Creative Team

Conductor
Patrik Ringborg

Director
Keith Warner

Set Design
Ashley Martin-Davis

Costume & Makeup Design
Nicky Shaw

Lighting Design
Robbie Butler

Sound Design
Joel Bexelius

Choreography
Mandy Demetriou

Video Design
Stefan Stanišić

Cast

Wendy Torrance
Cornelia Beskow

Jack Torrance
Peter Kajlinger

Delbert Grady
Per Lindström

Dick Hallorann
Luthando Qave

Danny Torrance
TBA

Stuart Ullman
Per Lindström

Lloyd
Christian Damsgaard-Madsen

Horace Derwent
Fredrik Zetterström

Mark Torrance
Kosma Ranuer

Enid Massey
Sara Swietlicki

Anna Mae Grady
Katherine Koester

The Grady Sisters
Emmie Asplund
Laura del Sol Orostica

Barbro Citron
Bill Watson
Christian Damsgaard-Madsen

The Jazz Singer
Timothy Augustin

The Senator
Ola Heinpalu

Malmö Opera Chorus
Malmö Opera Orchestra

Bags

We kindly ask you to avoid bringing large bags to Malmö Opera whenever possible. Large bags are not allowed inside the auditorium, and our storage options are limited. Handbags may be brought with you into the auditorium.

Foyer Opening Hours

For performances in Storan, the foyer opens two hours before the show.
For performances in the foyer or in Verkstan, the doors open one hour before.
Here you can find the opening hours for the ticket office.

Pre-Booked Refreshments During the Interval

Have you made a pre-booking? Your table number will be displayed on signs in the foyer when you arrive. Please locate your table number before the performance begins.

Accessibility

The opera house is partially accessible for people with reduced mobility and for visitors with visual or hearing impairments. If you have a Malmönyckeln card, you may bring a support person to events at Malmö Opera. You pay only for your own ticket; your support person enters free of charge.
Read more about accessibility here.

Cloakroom

Please leave your outerwear in the cloakroom; it is free of charge.

Doors to the Auditorium

Your ticket indicates which entrance you should use.
Doors A, B, C, and D are located in the lower foyer (A is furthest to the left).
Doors E, F, G, and H are in the upper foyer (E is furthest to the left).
If you are seated on the balcony, you will find doors I, K, L, and M via a staircase in the upper foyer.

Before the performance

Opera Dinner
A wonderful performance is best complemented with a dinner in the Opera Grill.

Afternoon Tea
On Sundays we serve finger sandwiches, delightful pastries, and freshly baked scones.

Foyer Meny
Begin your opera visit with Klassikern or the Opera Plate.