Today, on Saturday 8 March Welsh National Opera joins in the celebration of International Women’s Day – a global event recognising women’s achievements and contribution, and advocating gender equality – that has grown into a movement promoting inclusivity and empowerment. So, at WNO we would like to shout out for our own leading women, Sarah Crabtree and Adele Thomas, who joined WNO as Co-General Directors/CEOs in January 2025.
Sarah’s distinguished career as a Creative Producer was forged through her time at Opera Holland Park and The Royal Opera. She has always supported the development of new work and emerging artists and is a passionate advocate for equity in the arts. Adele, born and bred in Port Talbot, South Wales, has become one of the UK’s most acclaimed and exciting opera and theatre directors, having worked for Glyndebourne, The Royal Opera, Royal Court Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe, National Theatre of Wales and of course, recently here at WNO with Rigoletto.
Both women met while working together as Producer (Sarah) and Director (Adele) but very much stayed in touch. They share not just a real passion for opera, but also two strong beliefs that:
opera is the dynamic art form of our age, and that we want to build the opera company of the 21st century. We want to evolve this extraordinary art form.
As Adele explains: 'in today’s world, standing up for what you believe in is becoming increasingly important but also terribly difficult. Being brave and tenacious, especially in the face of challenging circumstances for the arts, is hard. But it’s essential - because ultimately what we’re fighting for is not just today’s audiences and the artists but also ensuring that our future generations live in a world where they can thrive and flourish.'
Sarah adds: 'In our industry, I firmly believe that opera won’t exist unless we think differently about what it looks and sounds like in the future, and that is incredibly exciting. Opera has been an artform that’s reflected its cultural context, it’s morphed and developed across generations, and we need to remember that as we shape its next iteration. I’m delighted to be leading WNO with Adele – there’s nobody else I’d take on this mammoth challenge with.'
WNO marks its 80th anniversary next year and Sarah and Adele are its first female General Directors, with Adele its first Welsh leader, and together they are the first Co-leaders of a large international opera company. They join this category at a time when several of the UK’s leading opera companies also have female leadership, all forging a path forward to secure a strong future for opera.