Garth studied at Chetham's School of Music, St John's College, Cambridge, where he was a Choral Scholar, and at the Royal Northern College of Music. He has worked extensively as an actor, singer, writer and director. He made his operatic debut with the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company and has starred in the West End productions of Jerry Herman’s The Best of Times at the Vaudeville Theatre, as the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera and he created the role of Tony in Paul Webb's critically acclaimed one-man play, The Lodger. Garth has worked as a leading actor in many of the UK's major repertory theatres and has extensive experience in and knowledge of musical theatre, especially in the works of Stephen Sondheim. He most recently appeared as the Priest in the European premier of Adam Guettel’s Light in the Piazza and the 25th Anniversary Production of Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall. Garth also played Raoul in Ken Hill's inspired adaptation of Phantom of the Opera on tour in Japan and Manila. Other special moments include working alongside Anthony Newley in Leslie Bricusse's feel-good musical Scrooge. Garth is a regular member of London Voices and sings from time to time with the BBC Singers and The Maida Vale Singers.
As a director, he has produced Hollow Hill, Dear Mr Cook, and The Green Children for Buxton Festival and May We Borrow Your Husband by Andrew Gant for Lichfield International Festival. Other productions include A Murder Is Announced (East 15 Acting School); The Basement Room and the Operatic Scenes (RNCM & RAM). In 2011 he was commissioned to adapt and direct Peter Pan for the Blewbury Players. Garth directed Travel!, Showtune and Oh What A Lovely War for the University of Chichester and Bow Down for Manchester University. He was the resident director for the Lake District Summer Music 4x4 course. He has also devised, directed and appeared in many revues, most recently touring the UK with the Sandra Lambert Trio in his jazz show The Anthony Newley Story. Garth is also a senior lecturer and opera director at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, UK working within the School of Vocal Studies and specialising in acting skills, communication in performance for both undergraduate and post-graduate students. He is also responsible for the Musical Theatre elective and the Acting Project.
As a writer, his first book Stop the World - The Biography of Anthony Newley (Oberon Books 2003) was serialised in The Daily Mail, and garnered five star reviews from the national press. He is currently writing the book and lyrics for an original musical, The Highwayman and a chamber opera One Summer, both with the noted British composer and Director of The Junior Royal Academy of Music in London, Ben Parry. Ben and Garth have an ongoing and successful collaboration writing choral and solo works which are published by Peters Edition. Their anthem Flame has been recorded by the BBC Singers and will be featured in the Bach Choir’s BBC Prom this summer on Aug 5th at the Royal Albert Hall. His adaptation of J M Barrie’s Peter Pan was directed by Garth last July and this July will see the premiere of a new play for 11 – 15 year olds entitled School Rules or All You Ever Wanted To Know About Education But Couldn’t Be Bothered To Ask. The play which has over 70 roles is to be performed at Dauntsey's School in Wiltshire, by over 120 children. Garth has written three one-act plays specially for acting students and is presently writing a fourth - Departures - which will be performed this June at the RNCM.
Garth lives in Wiltshire with his wife and two children.
As a director, he has produced Hollow Hill, Dear Mr Cook, and The Green Children for Buxton Festival and May We Borrow Your Husband by Andrew Gant for Lichfield International Festival. Other productions include A Murder Is Announced (East 15 Acting School); The Basement Room and the Operatic Scenes (RNCM & RAM). In 2011 he was commissioned to adapt and direct Peter Pan for the Blewbury Players. Garth directed Travel!, Showtune and Oh What A Lovely War for the University of Chichester and Bow Down for Manchester University. He was the resident director for the Lake District Summer Music 4x4 course. He has also devised, directed and appeared in many revues, most recently touring the UK with the Sandra Lambert Trio in his jazz show The Anthony Newley Story. Garth is also a senior lecturer and opera director at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, UK working within the School of Vocal Studies and specialising in acting skills, communication in performance for both undergraduate and post-graduate students. He is also responsible for the Musical Theatre elective and the Acting Project.
As a writer, his first book Stop the World - The Biography of Anthony Newley (Oberon Books 2003) was serialised in The Daily Mail, and garnered five star reviews from the national press. He is currently writing the book and lyrics for an original musical, The Highwayman and a chamber opera One Summer, both with the noted British composer and Director of The Junior Royal Academy of Music in London, Ben Parry. Ben and Garth have an ongoing and successful collaboration writing choral and solo works which are published by Peters Edition. Their anthem Flame has been recorded by the BBC Singers and will be featured in the Bach Choir’s BBC Prom this summer on Aug 5th at the Royal Albert Hall. His adaptation of J M Barrie’s Peter Pan was directed by Garth last July and this July will see the premiere of a new play for 11 – 15 year olds entitled School Rules or All You Ever Wanted To Know About Education But Couldn’t Be Bothered To Ask. The play which has over 70 roles is to be performed at Dauntsey's School in Wiltshire, by over 120 children. Garth has written three one-act plays specially for acting students and is presently writing a fourth - Departures - which will be performed this June at the RNCM.
Garth lives in Wiltshire with his wife and two children.