NEVILL HOLT FESTIVAL
Nevill Holt is proud to welcome a lineup of internationally renowned artists to Leicestershire each June. Building upon a decade of opera performances, the Nevill Holt Festival now includes classical music, theatre, art, jazz, comedy, and contemporary music, alongside conversations with leading novelists, historians, broadcasters and artists.
The History of Nevill Holt
The Nevill Holt estate, upon which our award-winning theatre is built, dates back to the thirteenth century and has long been a home for the arts. Throughout its history, the estate’s many famous owners have championed the arts, from the Kirkby and Nevill families to the Cunards and now its current owner David Ross, who spent 12 years on Nevill Holt’s restoration.
With breathtaking panoramic views that look out over three counties, our theatre is surrounded by stunning gardens designed by Chelsea gold medal winner, Rupert Golby and managed by Head Gardener, Andy Bretherick.
Visitors can enjoy outstanding pieces of modern British sculpture, which are positioned throughout the gardens. These include works by Antony Gormley, Rachel Whiteread, Allen Jones, Marc Quinn, Conrad Shawcross and Sean Henry.
“Arguably the best little opera house in the country”
“The new 400-seat theatre lifts Nevill Holt into a grander league”
“A five star experience”
NEVILL HOLT FESTIVAL TEAM
Producing, Programming and Operations
Guest Festival Director 2024: James Dacre for Living Productions
Associate Festival Producer 2024: Lucy Rahim
Producers for The Magic Flute: Peter Huntley & Caitlin Eacott for Smart Entertainment
Festival Accountant: Liz Whimperley-Dixon
Accounting Consultant: Martin Ball for Smart Entertainment
Artist Liaison: Elissa Duffy
Travel Coordinator: Erin Robinson
Production Assistant: Adam Line
Programming
Visual Arts: Albany Bell
Programming: Katy Snelling & Connor Tobin
Jazz & Contemporary Music: Christopher King & Dale Thompson for daisyking
Britten Sinfonia: Meurig Bowen and Annabel Leakey
Shadwell Opera: Finnegan Downie Dear and Jack Furness
A French Affair: Piers Playfair for 23 Arts & Frankie Parham for Mascarade Opera
The Josephine Hart Poetry Hour: Mary Wellesley and Ruby Glasspool
Marketing, Sales, Digital & Development
Festival 2024 Marketing: Rob Macpherson & Billy Partridge for Impakt
Membership, Sponsorship & Fundraising Director: Anita Bott
Branding and Website Design: Jono Renton & Gerben Janssen for Studio Renton
Press: Ben Chamberlain & Skye Redman for Bread & Butter PR
Social Media: Chris Shipman & Julie Chick for Jwoo Social
Graphic Designer: Neill Staniforth for Forth Storey
Animation Designer: Phil Bearman
Marketing & Sales Consultant: Emma Zacharia
Marketing & Sales Assistant: Jess Burn
Box Office: Family Tickets
Community Ambassadors: Julien Sheridan, Hatty Morris
NEVILL HOLT FESTIVAL TEAM
Technical and Production
Festival Technical Director: Thomas Langford for TLPS
The Magic Flute Production Manager: Andy Reader
Head of Stage: Sam McCarthy-Robinson
Festival Company Stage Manager: Helen Fagelman
Lighting Supervisor: Simon Moss
Sound Supervisor: Louis Fryman
Technical Swings: Eliott Bloomer, Thomas James Kavanagh
Piano Supplier and Tuning: Steinway & Sons
Technical hires provided by Set Stage, Cloud One, JC Events Services
Site Management
Site Management Co-Ordinator: Joy Brankin-Frisby
Front of House Team: Ethix Management
Nevill Holt Enterprises Hospitality & Catering
Project Manager: Katherine Lindsay
Event Manager: Sophie Jenkins
Catering FOH Manager: Pete Cole
Catering FOH Team Assistant: Harry Jenkins
Estate Chef: Dan Lenton
Guest Chef: Jeremy Lind
Nevill Holt Estate
Head Gardener: Andy Bretherick
Gardening Team: Zeb Murray, Caron Billington, Jack Flavel
Nevill Holt House Team: Alistair Kendrick, Barbara Hallam & Team
Nevill Holt Estate Team: Jim Chattaway & Team
With special thanks to The Paolozzi Foundation, Simon Beresford,
Bea Marston and 42 Management, Keiron Cooke and Askonas Holt,
Callum Runciman, Paul and Ben Caro, Jessica Walker and Joseph
Atkins, Caroline Michel, Charles Spencer, Michael Cherella,
Jonathan Agnew, Scarlet McKeown and James Albrecht
Governance
Nevill Holt Festival is grateful to its Trustees for overseeing the work of the Festival and its charitable remit.
Nevill Holt Festival Board
James Hunt (Executive Chair)
James Dunseath
Joanne Hoareau
Nick Teagle
Nevill Holt Community Arts Board
James Dunseath
Simon Rose
Simon Toyne
Nevill Holt Festival and Nevill Holt Community Arts are respectively a limited company and an independent charity, both run by a Board and Festival Team. Over 70% of the organisation’s income comes from box office sales and Theatre Tax Relief with the remainder fundraised from trusts, foundations, members, sponsors and individual giving.
