Polly Graham

Artistic director, Longborough Festival Opera

Polly Graham is a visionary opera director celebrated for her bold and innovative storytelling. Her approach brings fresh, contemporary relevance to both classic operas and new works, captivating audiences with productions that are emotionally rich and visually striking.

As Artistic Director of Longborough Festival Opera Polly has been a transformative force, reshaping the festival's identity to reflect opera’s visceral power and expanding its reach with emerging talent and inventive interpretations. Her leadership has seen the festival produce works that resonate deeply with modern audiences while honouring opera's timeless appeal.

Polly made her debut at the Vienna State Opera in 2019 directing the world premiere of Olga Neuwirth's Orlando. Her recent projects showcase her versatility and creativity, including Il Piccolo Principe by Pierangelo Valtinoni at La Scala, Così fan tutte for Irish National Opera, The Fairy Queen for Longborough Festival Opera and The Rake's Progress for English Touring Opera.

Her acclaimed productions have spanned an impressive range of repertoire and venues: from Frank Martin's Le Vin Herbé for Welsh National Opera and Theater St. Gallen, Iain Bell's A Christmas Carol in Trento and Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria for Longborough (in a circus tent) to The Emperor of Atlantis with Loud Crowd at London’s Bold Tendencies and the UK premiere of Karl Amadeus Hartmann's Simplicius Simplicissimus for Independent Opera at Sadler’s Wells. Her commitment to accessibility and community engagement has led her to direct Dido and Aeneas for Blackheath Halls Community Opera and Bloom Britannia, a community opera by Orlando Gough and Stephen Plaice.

Polly studied English at Trinity College, Dublin, before completing an MA in Text and Performance at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Early experience with companies like Santa Cruz Shakespeare Festival, Streetwise Opera, Teatr Pieśń Kozła and Le Théâtre du Soleil honed her distinctive artistic voice. A recipient of the Independent Opera Director Fellowship in 2016, Polly’s work has garnered numerous accolades including Best Opera Production in the Wales Theatre Awards (2017 & 2018). She was nominated as a Newcomer at the 2017 International Opera Awards and for the Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award in the same year.

Polly Graham's productions are known for their profound emotional impact, innovative design, and dynamic interpretations making her one of opera's most compelling contemporary voice.