Full Name
James Clutton
Job Title
Director of Opera and Chief Executive
Company
Opera Holland Park
Speaker Bio
In 26 years at the company, James has produced over 150 opera productions and is responsible for choosing creative teams and all casting.
In 2022 James commissioned a new opera by Jonathan Dove and Alasdair Middleton based on the Itch novels by Simon Mayo for the OHP 2023 season. This was a huge critical success, was nominated for an Ivor Novello award and was revived at OHP in 2025.
In 2012, he commissioned the family opera Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - the company's first commission which has been performed over100 times including performances at OHP, the Linbury Theatre, The Royal Opera House and at Wilderness Festival and returns to Opera Holland Park in 2026.
In 2010 James created Inspire - OHP’s outreach programme and in 2018 he collected the International Opera Award for Outreach and Education on behalf of Opera Holland Park.
In 2021, he worked with the designer takis to re-imagine and create an intimate and acclaimed new theatre space for Opera Holland Park. James hosts the podcast From the Producer’s Office and regularly presents live broadcasts from Opera Holland Park. He is on the advisory board of the National Student Opera Society, the Advisory Board of Royal Holloway, University of London and sits on the International Opera Awards Bursaries committee.
Before joining Opera Holland Park, James was an independent theatre producer and then a producer for Bill Kenwright Ltd, producing plays and musicals in the West End and national tours.
In 2022 James commissioned a new opera by Jonathan Dove and Alasdair Middleton based on the Itch novels by Simon Mayo for the OHP 2023 season. This was a huge critical success, was nominated for an Ivor Novello award and was revived at OHP in 2025.
In 2012, he commissioned the family opera Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - the company's first commission which has been performed over100 times including performances at OHP, the Linbury Theatre, The Royal Opera House and at Wilderness Festival and returns to Opera Holland Park in 2026.
In 2010 James created Inspire - OHP’s outreach programme and in 2018 he collected the International Opera Award for Outreach and Education on behalf of Opera Holland Park.
In 2021, he worked with the designer takis to re-imagine and create an intimate and acclaimed new theatre space for Opera Holland Park. James hosts the podcast From the Producer’s Office and regularly presents live broadcasts from Opera Holland Park. He is on the advisory board of the National Student Opera Society, the Advisory Board of Royal Holloway, University of London and sits on the International Opera Awards Bursaries committee.
Before joining Opera Holland Park, James was an independent theatre producer and then a producer for Bill Kenwright Ltd, producing plays and musicals in the West End and national tours.
Speaking At