Willie Williams

Willie Williams is a highly acclaimed show director, stage, video and lighting designer for concerts, theater, and multimedia projects. He is best known for his groundbreaking work with the rock band U2, and is recognized as one of the leading artists in his field.

Williams began his career doing lights for various bands in the punk rock scene. His combination of hi-tech media and lo-tech eccentricity first received acclaim through his work with U2 for their Zoo TV and PopMart tours, which introduced multi-screen video imagery to concert performances. He has designed innovative U2 stage shows for 40 years, including the band's groundbreaking residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Williams has also worked with musical artists such as R.E.M., David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Robbie Williams, Darren Hayes and George Michael. His body of work is regarded as having contributed to laying the foundations of modern rock and pop show design.

Additionally, Williams designs gallery and architectural installations, such as the iconic, giant kinetic chandelier for Omnia nightclub at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas. Other public works include lighting installations within Canterbury Cathedral, on London’s Southbank and a permanent exhibit at Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum. Williams served on the advisory board for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant in 2022.

His theater projects include video design for "Prima Facie," for which Williams won a New York Drama Desk award in 2023; a collaboration with Complicite for their production of "The Master and Margarita" at the Barbican, London and at the Avignon Festival; and lighting design and video scenery for "French & Saunders," "Little Britain Live," Pam Ann at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London, and the "Barbarella" musical at Vienna’s Raimund Theatre, among others. He also designed the lighting and directed the video content for the Queen musical "We Will Rock You," which played in theaters worldwide, including a twelve-year run at London’s Dominion Theatre.

Performing arts projects include several collaborations with Kronos Quartet, most notably on "Sun Rings," an evening-length multimedia production commissioned by NASA. Other work in this field includes designing for the legendary Montréal-based dance company La La La Human Steps, scenic design for Marianne Faithfull and various projects with Laurie Anderson.

His work has been profiled in TIME magazine, Creative Review, The New York Times and Wired. He is a founding partner of Treatment Studio, London.