UK's Opera North Names New Executive Director

Playwright, author, and arts executive Henry Filloux-Bennett will step into the role

Henry Filloux-Bennett comes to the Executive Director role from previous high-level positions at Huddersfield's Lawrence Batley Theatre, The Lowry, and the Nottingham Playhouse.

With a background in theater writing and production, Filloux-Bennett has also held roles with prominent UK theater companies such as Royal Shakespeare Company, Theatre Royal Haymarket, and Bill Kenwright Ltd.

In addition, he has written critically acclaimed plays himself — including stage adaptations of Nigel Slater's novel Toast and of Jonathan Coe's novel What a Carve Up!. Filloux-Bennett recently conceived and wrote a new version of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was shown as a digital production during the pandemic.

"I am thrilled to be joining the team at Opera North," Filloux-Bennett said.

"Having had a long connection with the company, from first seeing them at the Theatre Royal and Concert Hall in Nottingham to then working with them at The Lowry in Salford and more recently at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield, the prospect of joining as Executive Director at this really exciting – but also challenging – time is one I absolutely relish."

"I am delighted that Henry Filloux-Bennett has been appointed as our new Executive Director, joining the Company in May 2023," said Richard Mantle, the General Director of Opera North. "He brings with him a wealth of experience through his theater career and as a writer."

"This is a pivotal moment in the history of Opera North as we develop our strategic priorities and re-build our way out of the impact of the pandemic and the current cost of living crisis. Henry will be a key part of the leadership of Opera North into the future, bringing with him significant experience of business planning, budgetary and financial forecasting, programming, stakeholder management, commercial strategies and food and beverage hospitality."