Guy Verrall-Withers

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CEO

Guy Verrall-Withers, originally from Bristol, discovered his passion for music and theatre as a boy treble and through youth theatre. His love for opera emerged during his teenage years, leading him to study Music at Cardiff University and further at the Royal Academy of Music, where he excelled as a tenor, winning multiple accolades. In 2017, Guy founded Waterperry Opera Festival, a platform for innovative opera-making. Under his leadership, the festival has produced 36 new productions in seven years, including acclaimed stagings for young audiences such as Peter Rabbit’s Musical Adventure (2018–2023) and Peter and the Wolf (2021–2022). His directorial highlights also include Janáček’s The Diary of One Who Disappeared (2022) and Dido & Aeneas (2023). Beyond Waterperry, Guy has collaborated with leading organisations like Glyndebourne, Opera Holland Park, and Mahogany Opera Group. He lives in Wimbledon with his wife, pursuing his lifelong commitment to accessible and innovative opera.