Stephen Barlow is an Australian born (1973), London based opera director. He was educated at Melbourne Grammar School and the University of Melbourne. He has directed operas for the Metropolitan Opera New York, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, San Francisco Opera, Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Opera Holland Park (London), Singapore Lyric Opera, Mid Wales Opera, British Youth Opera, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and University College Opera, London. He has also worked for the Royal National Theatre, London and the Mariinsky Theatre (formerly Kirov) in St Petersburg.
In the Autumn of 2011 he staged the opening production of the Wexford Festival Opera's 60th anniversary season - La cour de Célimène by Ambroise Thomas. These were the first performances of the opera since its premiere in Paris in 1855. In 2012 he will stage the opening season productions - Carmen and Tosca - for both Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Santa Fe Opera.