The Grange Festival announces new director

The Grange Festival in Hampshire has appointed GUY VERRALL-WITHERS to the new role of director of audiences and impact. He will begin on a part-time basis this spring, before joining full-time in late August 2025.

Verrall-Withers is currently the artistic director and chief executive of Waterperry Opera Festival, which he founded in 2017.

The Grange Festival, which holds performances of opera, jazz and dance each summer, says Verrall-Withers’ appointment highlights its “commitment to growing audiences for opera and the arts”.

The festival says it is seeing “record-breaking growth” under its chief executive TYLER STOOPS, who joined the organisation in July.

“We have big ambitions for the festival, and Guy’s role will ensure many more people will come to experience opera and the stunning performances we create,” said Stoops.

Verrall-Withers said he was “delighted to join The Grange Festival at this exciting time of growth and evolution under Tyler’s leadership”.