OperaUpClose Artistic Director & Chief Executive to become General Director of English Touring Opera
The Board of OperaUpClose announces that its Artistic Director & Chief Executive, Robin Norton-Hale, will be leaving OperaUpClose in September 2022 to take on a new role as General Director at English Touring Opera.
Robin co-founded OperaUpClose in 2009, and under her leadership the company has produced over 30 operas, including commissions from Laura Bowler, Michael Nyman and Mark Ravenhill and premieres by Katarzyna Brochocka, Spyros Syrmos and Luke Styles. Her Olivier Award-winning production of La Bohème has had over 200 performances at venues all over the UK and toured internationally to the Ravenna Opera Festival, and in 2019 Robin and composer Joanna Lee’s opera for very young children, Peace At Last, was seen by over 4,000 children.
OperaUpClose is currently working in partnership with Manchester Camerata and with local community choirs to produce The Flying Dutchman, which will tour to portside locations including Blackpool, Bristol, Hull, London and Southampton this autumn. Plans for 2023 and beyond include returning to midscale theatre touring and developing our next opera for children, in partnership with organisations around our Southampton base, before taking the new opera to schools around the country.
Abigail Toland, Chair of the Board said: “We are delighted for Robin on her appointment and wish her every success. Of course, we are also very sad to be seeing her go. In her 12 years with OperaUpClose Robin has grown us into a national touring, Olivier Award-winning opera company and we are all incredibly grateful for everything that Robin has done to make us so successful. The search begins straightaway for new talent to take the Board’s vision for OUC forward – continuing to provide imaginative, accessible, affordable opera for all. We are looking forward to our return to touring across the country this Autumn with The Flying Dutchman, our biggest and boldest production yet and have exciting plans for our future work in Southampton from our base at MAST Mayflower Studios, and beyond.”
Robin Norton-Hale said: “When we staged La Bohème in a tiny pub theatre back in 2009 I could never have imagined the impact it would have, or the organisation OperaUpClose would become. I am so grateful to the artists, funders, and audiences for their talent, generosity and support, and who have helped create an amazing body of work. With such a talented and committed Chair, board of trustees and staff, I know OperaUpClose will continue to go from strength to strength, and I look forward to seeing what happens next, as it is sure to be bold and brilliant.”