Garsington executive director to step down

Chiltern Hills-based opera company Garsington Opera has announced that Nicola Creed will be stepping down from the role of executive director. The current 2025 summer programme will mark Creed’s last season at the helm of the company.

Nicola has held the role of executive director for 12 years. She took up the position in 2013 after 14 years as associate director, 10 years with the National Trust and three years with the Historic Houses Association. She shares leadership of Garsington Opera with artistic director Douglas Boyd. Creed will remain in post until her successor is appointed.

In a press release shared by the company, Garsington said: ‘Nicola has been instrumental in shaping Garsington’s vision and ethos, fostering a culture of excellence whilst leading the company with wisdom, integrity and charm. She leaves Garsington Opera in robust shape’.

During her time at the helm, Creed has worked with Boyd to expand the length and membership of the festival over the last decade. She also worked with the company’s core team to find a new home for the festival at the Wormsley Estate in the Chiltern Hills and worked on the design for Garsington’s new opera house and its appeal for £3.5million.

This year she was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, supporting the Lord Lieutenant in their public duties with her specialist interest in arts and education. Her final season with Garsington will see the company present L'elisir d'amore, The Queen of Spades, Rodelinda and Fidelio over a seven-week summer period alongside a variety of insight talks.