Francis trained at Wimbledon School of Art. His career in the last thirty years encompasses work across drama, musical theatre and opera. He has designed numerous productions for The National Theatre, The RSC and new work for the Royal Court and Hampstead Theatre. Internationally, designs include productions for Komische Opera Berlin, Opera Geneva, Spoleto Festival and Opera de Monte Carlo.
Awards and Nominations
List Of Productions
2024
THE FLYING DUTCHMAN | Director: Rachael Hewer | Irish National Opera
2024
THE HOUSE | Director: Gary Hynes | Town Hall Theatre, Galway/ Gaiety Theatre, Dublin
ENDGAME | Director: Garry Hynes | Galway International Arts Festival
REUNION | Director: Mark O'Rowe | Black Box Theatre, Galway/ Gaiety Theatre, Dublin
PARTY GAMES! | Director: Joanna Read | Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
BILLY ELLIOT | Maag Theatre, Zurich, Switzerland
ACI GALATEA E POLIFEMO | Director: Jack Furness | London Handel Festival
2023
FAUST | Director: Jack Furness | Irish National Opera, Gaiety Theatre
ROMAN HOLIDAY | Director: Jeremy Sams | Theatre Royal Bath
GHOSTS | Director: Mark O'Rowe | Abbey Theatre, Dublin, Ireland
DRUID O'CASEY - THREE DUBLIN PLAYS | Director: Garry Hynes | Druid Theatre, Galway/ Abbey Theatre, Dublin/ The Public, New York
TOSCA | Director: Stephen Medcalf | Grange Park Opera
2022
THE LAVENDAR HILL MOB | Director: Jeremy Sams | UK Tour
LA GIOCONDA | Director: Stephen Medcalf | Grange Park Opera
THE ABDUCTION OF SERAGLIO | Director: Dieter Kaiegi | Opera de Marseilles, France
LADY OF LETTERS | Director: Joanna Read | National Tour
NOISES OFF | Director: Thom Smith Southerland | Theater Cottbus, Germany
THE LAST RETURN | Director: Sara Joyce | Druid Theatre, Galway, Ireland
2021
THE SEAGULL | and broadcast | Director: Garry Hynes | Druid Theatre, Galway, Ireland
IVAN THE TERRIBLE | Director: David Pountney | Grange Park Opera
SEAN O'CASEY THREE SHORT COMEDIES | Director: Garry Hynes | Druid Theatre, Galway, Ireland
SARKA | Director: Dieter Kaiegi | Theater Orchester Biel Solothurn, Switzerland
FIDELIO | Director: Annabelle Comyn | Irish National Opera
ONCE BEFORE I GO | Director: Selina Cartmell | Gate Theatre, Dublin, Ireland
2020
BOLAND (A POET'S JOURNEY) | Broadcast | Director: Garry Hynes | Druid Theatre, Galway, Ireland
DRUID GREGORY (PLAYS OF AUGUSTA GREGORY) | Director: Garry Hynes | Druid Theatre, Galway, Ireland
THE CHERRY ORCHARD | and broadcast | Director: Garry Hynes | Druid Theatre, Galway, Ireland
BLUEBEARD'S CASTLE | Director: Dieter Kaiegi | Theater Orchester Biel Solothurn, Switzerland
STREET SCENE | Director: Matthew Ebberhardt | Opera North
MAGGIE MAY | Director: Jemima Levick | Leeds Playhouse
2019
GYPSY | Director: Jo Davies | Manchester Royal Exchange
THE BEACON | Director: Garry Hynes | Druid Theatre, Galway, Ireland
PARADE | Broadcast | Director: Martin Duncan | Chatelet Paris, France
EPIPHANY | Director: Garry Hynes | Druid Theatre, Galway, France
FANTASIO | Director: Martin Duncan | Garsington Opera
PORGY AND BESS | Director: Jean Pierre van der Spuy | Grange Park Opera
THE COUNTRY GIRL | Director: Graham McLaren | Abbey Theatre, Ireland
THE TELL TALE HEART | Director: Anthony Nielson | National Theatre
PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS
THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE | Director: Wilson Milam | Royal Shakespeare Company
THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE | Director: Garry Hynes | Druid Theatre/ Royal Court/ Broadway
THE LEENANE TRILOGY | Director: Garry Hynes | Druid Theatre/ Royal Court
WRITTEN ON THE HEART | Director: Gregory Doran | Royal Shakespeare Company
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM | Director: Gregory Doran | Royal Shakespeare Company
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST | Director: Gregory Doran | Royal Shakespeare Company
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW | Director: Gregory Doran | Royal Shakespeare Company
LA TRAVIATA | Director: Conall Morrison | English National Opera
WAITING FOR GODOT | Director: Garry Hynes | Druid Theatre/ Lincoln Centre, New York, US
DRUID SHAKESPEARE | Director: Garry Hynes | Druid Theatre/Lincoln Centre, New York, US
DRUID SYNGE | Director: Garry Hynes | Druid Theatre/ Lincoln Centre, New York, US
DRUID MURPHY | Director: Garry Hynes | Druid Theatre/ Lincoln Centre, New York, US / Edinburgh Festival
KISS ME KATE | Director: Martin Duncan | Dortmund Opera/ Bonn Opera, Germany
PRAGUE QUADRENNIAL 2019 | Francis O’Connor was selected to represent unique achievement in Irish Stage Design | Work on Waiting for Godot was shown in fragments
PINOCCHIO | Broadcast | Director: Martin Duncan | Opera North
SILENT NIGHT | Broadcast | Director: Eric Simonson | Premier Minnesota Opera, US
THE MAGIC FLUTE | Director: Daniel Slater | Ural State Opera, Russia
DON PASQUALE | Director: Daniel Slater | Opera de Geneva, Switzerland
ENLIGHTENMENT | Director: Edward Hall | Hampstead Theatre
SACRED HEART | Director: Edward Hall | Royal Court
A RAISIN IN THE SUN | Director: David Lan | Young Vic
THE DAUGHTER IN LAW | Director: David Lan | Young Vic
LA CAVA | Director: Stephen Dexter | Piccadilly Theatre/ Eon Entertainment
LOSERVILLE | Director: Stephen Dexter | West End
TARRY FLYNN | Director: Conall Morrison | Abbey Theatre/ National Theatre
IPHIGENIA IN AULIS | Director: Katie Mitchell | Abbey Theatre
THE SHAUGHRAUN | Director: John McColgan | Abbey Theatre/ West End
THE WAKE | Director: Patrick Mason | Abbey Theatre
OVER TEN PRODUCTIONS | Gate Theatre, Dublin, Ireland