The November Newsletter & Booking Form

BUXTON JULY 24 - JULY 29

HARROGATE AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 18

THE GILBERT & SULLIVAN MERRY-GO-ROUND! Running the Festival is a bit like riding on a merry-go-round. Once you are on it is difficult to get off unless you stop it altogether. This year we did seriously consider making it the last. It has been a huge joy for 25 years but it has not been without a great deal of stress and challenges few people would believe. My illness was probably the worst challenge – but healthwise things seem to have improved and we decided early this summer to give it one more go! But it has to become financially viable or sadly 2019 will be the last year. This is why we need your support.

We are trying to hit the ground running. We have appointed a new bookkeeper (Sarah) and a new administrator (Steph). We have cut the festival to a more sensible length. We will have six days in Buxton and 12 days in Harrogate. The main programmes for the Opera House and the Royal Hall are now finalised. We have nine University productions confirmed and the morning fringe is almost complete. We are also working on a full fringe programme for Buxton.

We are planning many more opportunities for you to sing (if you wish) and hopefully become even more involved. There are more “hands-on” activities including back stage tours to see how the festival runs. We have changed the adjudication procedure. We are looking to offer a more varied evening cabaret programme.

You have told us that you prefer the festival to be built around one location in Harrogate - and that is what we will do. The Utopia Pavilion will also feature a 200 seat Utopia Theatre at the far end of the hall with tiered seating. It will be an improved Savoy Theatre from two years ago eliminating the traffic noise and providing more comfort for the performers.

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Stone Beauty ONE? I AL M A ENGA GED

THE GREAT

FALL EN FA IRIES

GILBERT & SULLIVAN

Small titles a

SONG LOTTERY

We know that all our supporters want to see the Festival continue for another 25 years and more. We know that many of our supporters would like to do more to help – but they are not sure how. Well here’s a way. To coincide with our first Priority Draw for the 2019 Festival on December 3rd we are launching our own Great Gilbert and Sullivan Song Lottery. Our prize money won’t match the Big Lottery but it will be quite substantial and buying a ticket means that you are helping preserve the future of the Festival.

Tit Willow

Golden L egend

Minerva

How will our Lottery Work. “She wants a ticket – take a dozen!” You can buy as many tickets as you wish. Each ticket costs £2.50 and in exchange you are given not a number but a Gilbert and/or Sullivan Title. It could be a song (Tit Willow), an opera (Haddon Hall) or a play (Engaged). That is the title you will hold as long as you play.

We hope that people will sign up for 12 months. We now have a standing order system in place which makes it as easy as one signature.

Did you know? The Lottery was established in 1994 – the same year that the Gilbert and Sullivan Festival was launched.

Fifty per cent of the weekly ticket money received will be returned in prizes every week. The first prize will be 30% of the value of that week’s draw; ten per cent the Did you know? It turns out that a second prize and five per cent the staggering 70% of the UK's over third. At least another five per cent 18s take part in the national lottery will be given away in theatre tickets on a regular basis, which is close to for the following festival.

45 million people. (That's about the same amount of people that live in It’s fun. It’s friendly. It’s for anyone Ukraine.) On top of that at least aged 18 or over to join. You could 50% of the overall population do it win – and so could the Festival. It more than once a month, and on could help pay for the 400-plus average they buy a minimum of 3 costumes we have to hire every tickets each week. year ( cost around £30,000) or the scenery ( £25,000).

You can sign up today by completing the form in the pull out section of our newsletter (page 35).

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Bunthorne’s Auction

There is an absolute determination to keep the Festival going. Thousands of miles away on the recent River Nile cruise, American and British enthusiasts were brainstorming funding opportunities to ensure a future for the Festival that brings enormous pleasure to thousands of people from around the world. One of the main outcomes of the discussion will be BUNTHORNE’S AUCTION which will be held in Harrogate during the 2019 Festival.

“Come walk up and purchase with avidity – overcome your diffidence and natural timidity; tickets for the raffle should be purchased with avidity – such an opportunity may not occur again!”

Prizes worth £10,000 already donated!

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We will automatically enrol donors as a Patron, Partner or Benefactor of our charity depending on the value of the donation. But even more important, you will be helping to fund the biggest Gilbert and Sullivan celebration the world has ever seen – and ensuring its future.

If you will consider donating an auction item please tick the box on Page 35 Thank you for your continued support.

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A twin cabin cruise up the Moselle November 13-20, 2019 courtesy of Theatrical Adventures.

One week...Saturday to Saturday in November in the Snowbird Utah Ski Resort. One bedroom, mountain view apartment. Spectacular walks and Salt Lake City.

Luxury Villa in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote – one week (dates subject to availability).

Perfect family holiday. Sleeps 10. Private.

Large pool.

Fermain Holiday Cottage, Kingsley Holt close to Staffordshire Moorlands and Peak District. 1 week Sunday November 24th - December 1st 2019. Sleeps 4.

“Back to nature!” A weekend in the privacy of Lynton’s Wood. A cosy mini-pod for two in Constable country on the banks of the river Stour.

The general view was that our Silver Jubilee anniversary was a triumph. But don't just take our word for it – here are just a few comments from the press who reviewed our professional productions:

Opera Today Haddon Hall. Landmark revival – a delight from first to last.

The Stage The strength of the company's chorus and orchestra provide a firm base. Doublebill combines tradition with innovation

Seen and Heard Trial by Jury. Fantastic – I would like to have been able to preserve this performance in aspic.

Daily Mail Ruddigore. Here's a Ruddy good caper from Gilbert and Sullivan to marvel at. 5*

Sunday Times Iolanthe – Scintillating.

Operetta Research Center Pirates of Penzance. Funniest production of this evergreen work in a traditional format that I have ever seen.

Sunday Times Trial by Jury – delightful

The Stage Iolanthe contains moments of sheer bliss

Seen and Heard The quality of costumes, sets and lighting carry the hallmark of a good London professional production.

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Looking Back

Congratulations to Savoynet who carried off this year's international trophy with an outstanding performance of "Patience.” Adjudicator Tony Finnegan described it as “ A wonderful evening in the theatre”

Runners-up with an equally enjoyable production of Patience were the New

London Opera Group. Mr Finnegan highlighted this production as Clever, witty, respectful,

The second runner-up was Bus Pass Opera with their production of Yeomen of the Guard.

“It was obvious from the first bar of the overture that we were in for a great evening in the theatre,” said Mr Finnegan. We were!

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Congratulations to

King’s College London... ...whose “Trial by Jury” won this year’s UNIFest competition. Runners up were Royal Holloway University with their production of The Gondoliers. In his overall summary UNIFest adjudicator Stephen Turnbull wrote that this year, the levels of commitment, enthusiasm, creativity and talent have been “tremendous, from old hands and newcomers alike.”

“Great things have been achieved on the tiniest of budgets. The standard of entertainment given to the audiences has been excellent. And the audiences have loved it. …

Whilst it has been a difficult and challenging to select the winners - gosh - it has been FUN! It is a cliché to say there are no losers in this competition. But that’s because it is true. I have watched nine shows this year; and in all of them, everyone has given their all to entertain the audience, and everyone has succeeded in doing so.

Anyone who has ever trod the boards will tell you that there is no better feeling in the world than receiving applause and knowing that you are sending your audience home happy. Long may everyone who takes part in the UniFest continue to enjoy that feeling. Heartiest congratulations to everybody.”

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What you said!

Statistics

52.8% of our visitors ate out more than four times during their visit; 16% three times 16% twice.

We are at the early stages of evaluating the questionnaire which was sent to visitors to this year's festival. The responses make interesting reading:

21.8% were first-time visitors another significant increase in previous years

52% stayed in a hotel 21% in a guesthouse 17.8% travelled back home

We asked people how they would rate the facilities in Harrogate from bad to great.

We asked how far our visitors had travelled.

13% were local (within 20 miles of Harrogate); 27% travelled over 200 miles; 22% 100 to 200 miles; 16% 50 to 100 miles; 14.94% came to the festival from overseas – a significant growth from previous years.

The Royal Hall: very good or great Hotel accommodation: very good or great Other accommodation : very good or great Quality of restaurants very good or great

57% of our visitors stayed at least four nights in the area; 16% three nights and 12% two nights

83.9% 72% 78% 83%

A massive 89% said they would return in 2019!

The average spend per person (excluding hotel accommodation and theatre tickets) was £345 ranging from below £250 to above £5000.

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Here are more Jubilee statistics. Although this year’s Festival celebrated 25 years it was in fact the 33rd festival if you take into account the five visits to America, two to Lanzarote in the Canaries and one to the Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne.

Buxton saw the final performance of Derby Gilbert and Sullivan Company who had won no fewer than six times. Only South Anglia came close with their five victories.

What a pity that both these outstanding amateur groups are no longer with us.

David Turner adjudicated the festival on 12 occasions; Gillian Humphreys on seven.

The most performed shows at the festival between 1994 and 2018 were the Pirates of Penzance (95); the Mikado (91); and HMS Pinafore (77).

86 British amateur performing groups brought at least one production to the festival which has featured 23 overseas performing groups.

There have only been four musical directors throughout the 25 years and Sally Robinson has led the orchestra at home and overseas across all 33 festivals.

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Quite remarkable.

SPECIAL HARROGATE MOMENTS There were many special moments at this year's festival.

One of the most delightful was the announcement that Stella Whitehouse had won the best female voice for her performance as Elsie in the Bus Pass Opera production of "Yeomen of the Guard.” What an achievement. At the very first festival 25 years ago Stella won best female voice for her performance as Mabel in the festival production that year. Congratulations.

Who could possibly forget the Japanese production of “The Mikado” in Buxton? Prof Meg Arai from Tokyo was the principal co-ordinator of the visit and it was a great delight to welcome her to Harrogate this summer. She is hoping to come back next year with a group of Japanese visitors.

A good friend of the Festival in recent years has been Eric James who has helped promote the festival widely in his native Australia. This has certainly helped in increasing the number of Aussies travelling across the world to Harrogate.

A 92-year-old from Hamilton New Zealand achieved a lifetime ambition to perform in Yeomen of the Guard. He probably never thought he would have to fly a round trip of 36,000 kilometres to achieve his dream as part of this year’s Bus Pass Opera production.

We were delighted to welcome the one and only Miss Valerie Masterson CBE to the performance of “Pirates” in Wycombe. She is seen here with husband Andrew and a star-struck Neil Smith.

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Looking ahead Nothing stands still.

The Festival has surprised everyone. It did not die after it moved to Harrogate. Rather it continues to grow as it has over most of the last 25 years. We have been able to present the best of our professional company in Buxton, in Harrogate and beyond - but we still struggle to cover our costs. It really is time for changes.

Our recent questionnaire conďŹ rmed some of our thoughts.

Visitors love the festival – but they are concerned that the standards of some of our amateur performers are falling. They want us to be more selective. It should be an honour for an amateur group to appear at the Festival. They are concerned about the adjudication system and would be happy for a change.

Although they like Harrogate Theatre they do not like the hill that separates the theatre from the central hub and do not support the shows there as much as they would in the Royal Hall complex.

Since August 27 we have undertaken a total reappraisal of the highs and lows of the festival. We want them all to be "highs" and we hope that the changes that we will implement next year will ensure an even more memorable visit for our supporters .

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HALT THE AMATEUR G&S DECLINE! Brainstorm Conference Planned For Harrogate As a “fly on the wall” I found most of a recent Facebook commentary on next year’s festival somewhat depressing. It was bemoaning the fact that the number of outstanding amateur groups was declining resulting in a reduction of amateur performances at the festival.

There was one bright suggestion. Joey Lowe suggested a “producers conference” to look at help for amateur societies. Carol Davis from New York thought it was “an interesting idea.” So let’s do it. A brainstorm session in Harrogate for producers or officials or representatives of any amateur G&S Society or University group from anywhere in the world. Come along and address the issues and develop a strategy before it is too late. How can the Festival; or the Arts Council or the vibrant University community or anyone else help to stem the demise of GOOD G&S at any and every level.

We accept the challenge and will host such a brainstorming session on Wednesday afternoon August 7th at 2pm in the Utopia Theatre. Anyone and everyone with positive and constructive ideas will be welcome. And if you register formally (page 35) representing your amateur society or university group we will offer you a special 2for1 ticket deal to see the National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company’s new sparkling production of The Gondoliers that evening.

We are as anxious as anyone to get outstanding amateur G&S productions back to the Festival. Let’s develop a marketing strategy that will help secure a positive and long-term future!

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A NEW “PEOPLE’S”

We are calling it “The People’s Adjudication” (a bit like the proposed Brexit People’s Vote!!!). Members of the audience will select the winners.

How will it work? We are currently figuring out the details but basically we are looking for a minimum of 10 volunteers who will attend each of the four, amateur productions and mark a pre-prepared questionnaire. The questionnaires will be evaluated and winners announced and presented at the customary award ceremony.

Anyone can be one of the People’s adjudicators – providing they have absolutely no connection with any of the four competing groups.

Adjudication Abraham Lincoln made famous the saying - You can't please all of the people all of the time. That is certainly true of any adjudication system at any competitive event. Some people love it.

Some people hate it. It has been the most controversial topic of discussion in both Buxton and Harrogate. We have soldiered on with the same system for 25 years but after reading your comments this year we have come to the conclusion it is time for a change.

It is essential that they should attend the performances on Friday the ninth; Monday the 12th; Tuesday the 13th and Thursday, 15 August. They will sit wherever they choose in the Royal Hall. They will meet for one hour on Friday, August 16 to discuss the results with the artistic director and the awards will be presented on Sunday afternoon August 18 in the Utopia Theatre at 5:15pm.

We pride ourselves on our branding – it's fun, it's friendly and it's for all the family. We recognise of course that that only works if our audience is satisfied with the standard of performing groups that we present at the festival. Sadly we believe that the standard of many amateur groups is dropping to a level that festival audiences will not accept. This is an issue that we will try to address at our brainstorm session (see page 14).

However as you will see from this year's programme the shortened festival has only four competing groups and presents us with an ideal opportunity to amend the adjudication system.

Let's give it a chance – at least for a year. If you would like to volunteer to be one of the public adjudicators please complete the section on page 35.

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OPERA COMPANY TO STAGE FOUR BRAND NEW PRODUCTIONS We announced the Royal Hall programme to our charity friends earlier – and inevitably it soon leaked onto Social Media. It has been fascinating reading people’s views from all around the world. Everyone had something to say about everything - except the four new productions that the Opera Company will present in 2019!

We think that is the most exciting thing to talk about. Yes, just like most other professional and amateur companies we took a financial hit with “The Sorcerer,” “Ruddigore” and “Haddon Hall” last year. Even “Iolanthe” struggled in Harrogate and on tour. The casual G&S theatre goer is less likely to go and see a “new” G&S. I am told it is exactly the same in opera. There are five “pot-boilers” and the rest are risky.

When we have a spare load of cash in the bank we will be risky once again! Meantime the good news. Next year everyone should be delighted to welcome four of the all-time favourite shows in both Buxton and Harrogate. PIRATES, MIKADO, YEOMEN AND GONDOLIERS. It’s the best G&S you will see and hear – anywhere. (If you think differently go to Specsavers!!!)

The most flattering compliment for any Opera Company is when the cast almost unanimously agrees they want to return the following season. That is what happened to us this year and we are delighted that the vast majority will be back.

However it did not prevent us having new auditions in London and at the Royal Northern College of Music. Some fantastic talent out there – and it is again flattering that so many top notch singers want to join us. We are particularly pleased to welcome four debutantes from the RNCM for 2019. Outstanding voices. One, Julia Smith has literally walked into the plum role of Gianetta in The Gondoliers. Good luck Julia!

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Julia Smith

All 2018 G&S Fes val pictures by Jane Stokes

Bus Pass Opera The interest in this year’s Bus Pass Opera was tremendous and of course everyone was delighted that the company came third in the international competition. We have many new requests to participate in 2019 and so we have decided to present a “double bill” – Trial by Jury and HMS Pinafore.

voice type and indicate if you have been in a previous Bus Pass Opera production.

If you are applying for the first time please indicate voice type and a brief summary of previous Gilbert and Sullivan experience. Please also indicate if you wish to be considered for a part and which part(s).

The concept of Bus Pass was to give “retired” thespians the opportunity to come out of retirement and demonstrate their years of experience. We don’t want to start auditioning but our audience expect that standards will continue to rise. So…… this year we want to get it right. We have two shows to go at. We could have two casts if necessary.

Although the Bus Pass Opera Company is partly sponsored by the family of the late Andy Criddle and our own charity, costs continue to rise and there will be a nominal participating fee of £30 per person which will go towards the hire of costumes etc.

Here is the application procedure. If you would like to be considered please email: steph@gsfestivals.org. Please indicate

So if you may very well pass for 43 (60) in the dusk with the light behind you we will look forward to hearing from you.

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Youth Production A highlight of every festival is our Youth Production. It is open to young people aged between 9 and 19 who come together for a full week of rehearsals with a professional director and conductor. Next year the production will be The Pirates of Penzance.

Rehearsals will commence on Saturday August 10th and the performance will be in the special Utopia Theatre on Saturday afternoon August 17th.

In recent years we have been delighted to welcome participants from America, Sweden, France and Germany. The more international the better. It is surprising how many of our former youth performers have gone on to music or drama college and are now making a name for themselves in professional theatre.

The production is sponsored by our charity, the Friends of the Gilbert and Sullivan Association. This year there will be a nominal participating fee of ÂŁ30 each. This is to cover the costs of the professional chaperones we need to ensure the safety and well being of everyone participating.

If you would like to join our next Youth Production please email steph@gsfestivals.org with name, age and any previous experience. Also please indicate if you would like to apply for a principal role. Auditions will be held for principals during the spring. If you are unable to attend the auditions in Harrogate personally you can send a short DVD ďŹ lm of your audition to the committee.

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Thursday Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday This morning we talk to Sarah Helsby Hughes who has sung her way round the world and this year directs the Opera Company “Yeomen� and, of course, her own Heritage Opera Company.

The royal hall Harrogate

DRESS CIRCLE Rows A - H GRAND CIRCLE Rows A - J

GRAND HALL (Raised) Rows F - N

GRAND HALL (Flat) Rows A - E

The magnificently restored Royal Hall and (inset) you can see how we bring in our special tiered seating to add a new dimension and wonderful views for people seated in the back eight rows of the Grand Hall.

MORE TIERED SEATING IN THE STALLS

Yes, we will be raising the roof and the stalls again in the Harrogate Royal Hall next summer. We will be raising the roof with some fantastic performances – and we are raising the stalls with eight rows of our familiar tiered seating which have proved so successful. The illustration below shows rows A-E on the flat and then the staggered tiered seats from rows F-N.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

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H

J

K

L

M

N

The utopiA PAVILION G&S WONDERLAND UTOPIA THEATRE

stage Admiring a ceramic collection in the Memorabilia Fair.

Late night Cabaret Club performers; lunchtime entertainment; evening dining; memorabilia bargain hunters. Just a few of the scenes and sounds in last year’s Utopia Pavilion.

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Tower Green. The striking entrance to the Utopia Pavilion

ACCOMMODATION PACKAGES

Great Hotels! great prices!

HOTELS, THEATRE TICKETS, FRINGE EVENTS & FESTIVAL CLUB! YOUR COMPLETE FESTIVAL PACKAGES FOR 2019 These specially tailored accommodation packages are just the ticket. Simply pick the one you want, sit back – and let us do the work. We are using some fantastic Harrogate hotels – each within easy reach of the Royal Hall and our unique “Utopia” festival attractions.

Once again we have included MORE theatre and fringe tickets to ensure you have everything you need for a wonderful break in glorious Harrogate. So let’s get packing!

CEDAR COURT HOTEL Reopened in 1999, following a multi-million pound investment, the hotel offers you purpose modernised facilities with car parking and simple bus or taxi transfer to the front door of the Royal Hall.

THE CROWN HOTEL is just a couple of minutes walk from the Royal Hall, Turkish Baths, Betty's Tea Rooms, Valley Gardens and the picturesque town centre with its antique stores, Victorian arcades and boutique shops. Free wifi available throughout the hotel.

CROWNE PLAZA This recently refurbished modern and contemporary four-star hotel adjoins the Harrogate International Centre. Centrally located it is close to the Royal Hall, Betty’s Tea Rooms and the stunning Valley Gardens.

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THE MAJESTIC HOTEL is in the process of rebranding after a £15 million refurbishment. Built in 1899, the hotel is surrounded by acres of beautifully landscaped gardens that overlook the town and adjoin the HIC Utopia Pavilion and Royal Hall.

THE OLD SWAN HOTEL is just a short walk from the town centre and the Harrogate Royal Hall, it combines Victorian splendour with contemporary luxury. From its revolving doors to its famous glass-ceilinged Wedgwood restaurant, The Old Swan Hotel Harrogate exudes romance and mystery.

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ACCOMMODATION PACKAGES

Great Value for Money!

MORE THEATRE TICKETS THAN EVER INCLUDED Here are our traditional three, five and seven night accommodation packages.

3 NIGHT HARROGATE PACKAGES

5 NIGHT HARROGATE PACKAGES

- 3 nights bed and breakfast (standard room) - 3 best theatre tickets in the Grand Circle in the Royal Hall (or choose your own seats subject to availability) - 1 ticket to a matinee performance of your choice in the Utopia Theatre - 1 ticket to morning fringe event of your choice - 3 Festival Club tickets including after-show cabaret - “Welcome to the Festival” pre-show wine reception

- 5 nights bed and breakfast (standard room) - 5 best theatre tickets in the Grand Circle in the Royal Hall (or choose your own seats subject to availability) - 2 tickets to matinee performances of your choice in the Utopia Theatre - 2 tickets to morning fringe event of your choice - 5 Festival Club tickets including after-show cabaret - “Welcome to the Festival” pre-show wine reception

7 NIGHT HARROGATE PACKAGES

12 NIGHT HARROGATE PACKAGES

- 7 nights bed and breakfast(standard room ) - 6 best theatre tickets (choose your shows) in the Grand Circle in the Royal Hall (or choose your own seats subject to availability) - 3 tickets to matinee performances of your choice in the Utopia Theatre - 3 tickets to morning fringe events of your choice - 7 Festival Club tickets including after-show cabaret - “Welcome to the Festival” pre-show wine reception - 26th Anniversary Souvenir Programme

- 12 nights bed and breakfast(standard room) - 10 best theatre tickets (choose your shows) in the Royal hall Grand Circle (or - choose your own seats subject to availability) - 5 tickets to matinee performances of your choice in the Utopia Theatre - 6 tickets to morning fringe events of your choice - 12 Festival Club tickets including after-show cabaret - 2“Welcome to the Festival” pre-show wine reception - 26th Anniversary Souvenir Programme

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The cost

ACCOMMODATION PACKAGES

SEE PAGE 24 FOR HOTEL DESCRIPTIONS The prices below are per person sharing a twin-double room on a bed and breakfast basis in a standard room. Room upgrades, twin/double rooms for single occupancy, suites and garden views ( subject to hotel choice and availability) can be requested at the appropriate surcharge. Additional nights and extra theatre tickets are also available on request.

Please call 01422 323252 for details.

CEDAR COURT

THE CROWN

CROWNE PLAZA

THE OLD SWAN

THE MAJESTIC

3 NIGHTS

£400

£425

£455

£455

£455

5 NIGHTS

£530

£600

£645

£645

£645

7 NIGHTS

£665

£750

£830

£780

£830

12 NIGHTS

£1,070

£1,240

£1,340

£1,280

£1,340

Single nightly supplements are as follows: CEDAR COURT £10

THE CROWN £22

CROWNE PLAZA £22

THE OLD SWAN £15

THE MAJESTIC £42.50

Please note: There is an additional surcharge of £25 PER ROOM for guests staying at the Majestic Hotel on any Friday or Saturday night during the Festival.

Guests staying at the Cedar Court on a Saturday night will incur an additional cost of £20 per room.

UPGRADES Please call 01422 323252 if you would like to upgrade your room to a deluxe room or suite, or occupy a double room for sole occupancy.

CAR PARKING CHARGES Please note that the following 24-hour car parking charges apply: CEDAR COURT - FREE THE CROWN - £12 CROWNE PLAZA - £7 THE OLD SWAN - £7 THE MAJESTIC - £8 26

HArrogate ACCOMMODATION PACKAGES

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Best theatre tickets

All seats will be the best available in the Grand Circle of The Royal Hall and will be for the evening performance. If you would like to sit in alternative area in the theatre or you have any mobility issues or other seating requirements or would prefer the matinee performance when available please let us know as soon as possible.

THREE NIGHT PACKAGES Wednesday 7 August/Depart Saturday 10 August PACKAGE Arrive Royal Hall tickets: THE GONDOLIERS (National G&S Opera Company)

3/01

PACKAGE

3/02

PACKAGE

3/03

PACKAGE

3/04

PACKAGE

3/05*

PATIENCE (Forbear! Theatre) IOLANTHE (New London Opera Group) Arrive Friday 9 August/Depart Monday 12 August Royal Hall tickets: IOLANTHE (New London Opera Group) THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (National G&S Opera Company) THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD (National G&S Opera Company) This package is not available at the Cedar Court and Majestic Hotel Arrive Monday 12 August/Depart Thursday 15 August Royal Hall tickets: THE SORCERER (Peak Opera) TRIAL BY JURY & HMS PINAFORE (Bus Pass Opera) THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD (National G&S Opera Company) Arrive Wednesday 14 August/Depart Saturday 17 August Royal Hall tickets: THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD (National G&S Opera Company) PRINCESS IDA (SavoyNet Performing Group) RUDDIGORE (Charles Court Opera) Arrive Friday 16 August/Depart Sunday 19 August Royal Hall tickets: RUDDIGORE (Charles Court Opera) THE MIKADO (National G&S Opera Company) THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (National G&S Opera Company) This package is not available at the Cedar Court and Majestic Hotel

FIVE NIGHT PACKAGES Arrival Wednesday 7 August/Departure Monday 12 August

PACKAGE Royal Hall tickets: THE GONDOLIERS (National G&S Opera Company)

5/01

PACKAGE

5/02

PACKAGE

5/03

PATIENCE (Forbear! Theatre) IOLANTHE (New London Opera Group) THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (National G&S Opera Company) THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD (National G&S Opera Company) Arrive Monday 12 August/Depart Saturday 17 August Royal Hall tickets: THE SORCERER (Peak Opera) TRIAL BY JURY & HMS PINAFORE (Buss Pass Opera) THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD (National G&S Opera Company) PRINCESS IDA (SavoyNet Performing Group) RUDDIGORE (Charles Court Opera) Arrive Wednesday 14 August/Depart Monday 19 August Royal Hall tickets: THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD (National G&S Opera Company) PRINCESS IDA (SavoyNet Performing Group) RUDDIGORE (Charles Court Opera) THE MIKADO (National G&S Opera Company) THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (National G&S Opera Company) This package is not available at2the Cedar Court and Majestic Hotel

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ARRIVE WEDNESDAY JULY 24 DEPART SATURDAY JULY 27 - Opera House ckets: Mikado (Na onal G&S Opera Company); Gondoliers (Na onal G&S Opera Company); Princess Ida (Trent Opera).

ARRIVE SATURDAY JULY 27 DEPART TUESDAY JULY 30 - Opera House ckets: HMS Pinafore (Charles Court Opera); Gondoliers (Na onal G&S Opera Compnay); Mikado (Na onal G&S Opera Company).

ARRIVE WEDNESDAY JULY 24 DEPART MONDAY JULY 29 - Opera House ckets: Mikado (Na onal G&S Opera Company); Gondoliers (Na onal G&S Opera Company); Princess Ida (Trent Opera); HMS Pinafore (Charles Court Opera); Pirates of Penzance, Ma nee (Na onal G&S Opera Company)

Wed 24 - Sat 27 July (3 nights) Sat 27 - Tues 30 July (3 nights) Wed 24 - Mon 29 July (5 nights)

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PROGRAMME

Tuesday August 13

Monday August 12

Sunday August 11

Saturday August 10

Friday August 9

Thursday August 8

WHAT G&S WOMEN CAN TEACH US – Adriane Berg PIRATES of PENZANCE, York UNIVERSITY (UNIFest )

RUDDIGORE, Kings College London UNIVERSITY (UNIFest )

Sullivan’s “Light of the World” Ian Bradley

IOLANTHE – Durham Opera Ensemble (UNIFest)

Annual Gilbert & Sullivan Church Service

THE SORCERER, Royal Holloway University (UNIFEST )

Sponsored Walk 12.30 NOON Valley Gardens

(UP) Free

Memorabilia Fair 10AM - 5PM Ian Smith – Planning a Festival + backstage tour

(UP) £7.50 (UT) £15

(UT) £15

(UP) £7.50

(UT) £15

(UT) £15

(UP) £7.50

(UT) £15

(UP) £7.50

In Conversation With Bruce Graham

RUDDIGORE, Birmingham University (UNIFest )

(UT) £15

(UP) £7.50

(UT) Free

VENUE & PRICES

The Yeomen of the Guard HULL UNIVERSITY (UNIFest )

Stephen Turnbull discusses MIKADO & PIRATES

Wednesday August 7 Brainstorm; rejuvinating amateur G&S

DATE

No. of Tickets

TOTAL

KEY: UP (Utopia Pavilion ) UT (Utopia Theatre) HL (Heritage Lounge) Morning 10:30 Afternoon 2:30pm

UTOPIA THEATRE & FRINGE Book all your tickets here

31

PROGRAMME

Sunday August 18

Saturday August 17

Friday August 16

Thursday August 15

Awards Ceremony 5:15PM

Festival Lunch, Crown Hotel

12:45PM

In conversation with Richard Gauntlett

No. of Tickets

Total to pay

(UT) Free

£25.00

(UP) £7.50

(UT) £15

(UP) £7.50

Ian Smith – Planning a Festival + backstage tour

Pirates of Penzance – Youth Production

(UT) £15

(UP) £7.50

SHOW TO CONFIRM – LOPSoc (UNIFest )

In Conversation with Nicholas Sales

£15.00

(UT) £15

IOLANTHE, Oxford G&S Society (UNIFest )

Coach trip to RIPON – the unspoiled city

(UP) £7.50

(UT) £15

(UP) £7.50

£25

VENUE & PRICES

D’Oyly Carte “Inside Out” – Roberta Morrell

“Unbreakable Bond” – Catrine Kirkman

Wednesday Coach trip to model village of Saltaire August 14 Stephen Turnbull discusses GONDOLIERS & YEOMEN

DATE

TOTAL

KEY: UP (Utopia Pavilion ) UT (Utopia Theatre) HL (Heritage Lounge) Morning 10:30 Afternoon 2:30pm

UTOPIA THEATRE & FRINGE Book all your tickets here

August 7,8,9: Only seated in the flat area of the GRAND HALL - £60 Silver Pass: Tick 3 successive performances of your choice - £100 Gold Pass: Tick 7 successive performances of your choice - £250 Platinum: Tick 12 performances of your choice - £440

No other discounts (Members/concessions) can be used with special offers

SPECIAL OFFERS

Children 15 and under, 50% discount on all seats Senior Citizens (60+) £2 OFF THE FOLLOWING SEATS; GRAND HALL - ROWS A-E INCLUSIVE GRAND CIRCLE - ROWS F-J DRESS CIRCLE - ROWS C-G Groups (10 - 29) 10% discount; 30+ 15% discount

ROYAL HALL CONCESSIONS

Card Number

TELEPHONE ......................................................

Tel: 01422 323 252 Email: janet@gsfestivals.org Visit: www.gsfestivals.org

RETURN TO: G&S Festivals, The Old Vicarage, All Souls Road, Halifax, HX3 6DR.

£................

GRAND TOTAL

£................

£................

£................

Issue Number (Maestro)

Mastercard

Last 3 digits on the back of the card

Security Number

Visa

AMOUNT £___________________

Cheque enclosed (payable to G&S Festivals Ltd)

OTHER

BUXTON OPERA HOUSE

UTOPIA THEATRE & FRINGE £................

HARROGATE ROYAL HALL

TOTAL VALUE OF TICKETS

Tickets will go on general sale ON MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2019

Expiry Date

Please debit my: Maestro

POST CODE .......................................................

EMAIL ADDRESS ..............................................

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33

1.30 PM

FILM: 2018 produc on Iolanthe, Na onal G&S Opera Company NIGHTLY FESTIVAL CLUB WITH CABARET AND BAR

£3

Walk for Charity

Get your lottery tickets

I am walking for the Friends of the G&S Charity (page 4) In Buxton In Harrogate From home Send participants pack

I want to take part in the G&S Song Lottery (page 5) Please let me have ……... Tickets at £2.50 each Per week………

Per month…….

Bunthorne’s Auction

I want to donate a prize to Bunthorne’s auction in aid of The Friends of the G&S Charity My prize is …………………………………… value …………………..

My prize is £ ……….......cash for the organisers to purchase a prize

People’s Adjudication

I wish to be considered as a People’s Adjudicator (see Page 15) I am attaching a brief summary of my G&S interests and confirm I would attend the four amateur shows and am not connected in any way to the performing groups.

Brainstorm Conference

I will represent my society/ university at the “Brainstorming” conference on August 7th I want to take advantage of the 2for1 ticket offer for the performance of The Gondoliers -

Please send me participants pack for Bus Pass Opera Please send me participants pack for the Youth Production Send me details of Global G&S weekend package

JOIN OUR FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL FRIENDS BENEFACTOR LIFE MEMBER

Single £35 Single £100 Single £1000

Joint £50 Joint £150 Joint £1500

Family £75 Student £25 PARTNER Single £350 Joint £500 PATRON £1,000 or more: £________

MAKE YOUR CHEQUE PAYABLE TO: International G&S Association NAME………………………………………………………………………………….......................

ADDRESS………………………………………………………………………………....................

CONTACT NUMBER …………………………………………………………….......................

Email ………………………………………………………………………………….......................

35

WED 24 - SAT 27 JULY SAT 27 - TUE 30 JULY WED 24 - MON 29 JULY

3

www.gsfestivals.org info@gsfestivals.org 01422 323 252

FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL

reg charity no. 1103178

JOIN TODAY

We rely on the generosity of our Friends and supporters to sustain the Festival as well as our other work throughout the year. More than 90 per cent of our income comes from ticket sales. Whilst this is an amazing achievement in itself it also poses an amazing risk.

Five years ago our move to Harrogate saw our ticket sales drop quite significantly. Whilst not a surprise – it took us nearly ten years to really establish ourselves in Buxton – it meant we had to make up the difference from other sources which have now run out! This means that in the future to meet these costs, we are largely reliant on those individuals who choose to support our work and underpin the Festival’s continuing development. Please help us keep this wonderful Festival going and join our fantastic family of supporters. You can join on page 35 or online at www.gsfestivals.org with the following benefits:

FESTIVAL FRIEND

Single £35.00 Joint £50.00 Family £75.00 Student £25.00

Priority Draw for tickets and discount offers Pin Badge/s Free Member Activities during the Festival

Acknowledgment of support in Festival Programme Regular newsletters

BENEFACTOR

Single £100.00

ALL THE BENEFITS OF A FESTIVAL FRIEND plus...

Special Priority Draw for tickets and discount offers Invitation to the Chairman’s weekly Festival Reception in Harrogate

FESTIVAL PARTNER

Joint £150.00

Free Festival Souvenir programme Free Festival DVD of your choice Pass for the Utopia Festival Club Festival “Goody bag” in Harrogate Regular newsletters

Single £350.00

Joint £500.00

Select your specific seats in the Royal Hall throughout the G&S Festival Regular newsletters

ALL THE BENEFITS OF A BENEFACTOR plus...

Free ticket to Festival Youth Production 2 complimentary tickets to the show of your choice in The Savoy Theatre, Harrogate

LIFE MEMBER

PATRON

Single £1,000.00

MINIMUM ANNUAL DONATION £1,000

Joint £1,500.00

ALL THE BENEFITS OF A BENEFACTOR

ALL THE BENEFITS OF A FESTIVAL PARTNER

SING SALON! 37

Special ticket offers silver, gold & PLATINUM PASSES RETURN We plan to get next year's festival off to a flying start with a very special offer over the opening three days – Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, August 7, 8 and 9. The shows on offer are the National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company with a brand-new production of "The Gondoliers” followed by “Patience” from the Forbear! Theatre Company and “Iolanthe” from last year's international runners-up, New London Opera Group.

Our offer for seats in the flat area of the grand Hall is £60 showing major savings from the normal cost which would be £76.

Silver, gold and platinum passes.

We are also reintroducing these special passes which again offer outstanding value as you can see below:

Silver pass PA S S

S I LVER PA S S

G OL D PA S S

PL AT I NU M

Three tickets anywhere in the theatre on any three successive nights including three festival club tickets; two morning fringe events and one afternoon performance – Value £136 SPECIAL OFFER only £100

Gold pass

Seven tickets anywhere in the theatre on any seven successive nights, festival club tickets, three morning fringe and one matinee performance – Value £296.50 SPECIAL OFFER £250

Platinum pass

12 tickets to 7 professional and five amateur performances, 11 festival club tickets, three morning fringe events and two matinee performances – Value £495.50 SPECIAL OFFER £440

No further discounts or concessions can be applied to these special prices.

You can book any of these offers as part of the priority draw.

Simply put a "X" in the box of the performances you wish to attend.

38

WANT TO JOIN IN AND BE PART OF THE FESTIVAL? Do you love to sing, or act but just never get the opportunity? Think you’re too old (or too young!) to perform at the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Harrogate next summer? Well you are wrong. There are lots of ways you can join in and if you don’t want to sing on the stage you can always help out behind the scenes. For more information about any of the activities below, email: janet@gsfestivals.org or go online at: www.gsfestivals.org.

Here are some great opportunities where you can join in the fun...

1. BUS PASS OPERA Specially for singers and actors over 60. Bus Pass Opera was formed in 2014 and grows in popularity every year. Last year’s performance of Yeomen of the Guard was fantastic and we are looking forward to a cracking production of “Trial by Jury & HMS Pinafore” in 2019. The show is performed in The Royal Hall on Tuesday 13 August at 7.30pm and rehearsals take place in Harrogate from Tuesday August 6th. This is not for the fainthearted and you need to know all your lines!

2. THE FESTIVAL YOUTH PRODUCTION – Ages 9-19 Always a highlight of the Festival, this year’s production is The Pirates of Penzance and the performance will be on Saturday afternoon, 17 August. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about theatre, opera, singing and acting and Gilbert & Sullivan is the ideal introduction to musical theatre and opera. Reheasals will be in Harrogate from Saturday 10 August.

3. LUNCHTIME ENTERTAINMENT Every lunchtime throughout the Festival there is free, musical entertainment in the Utopia Pavilion from 1pm-1.30pm. Would you like to entertain? Do you have some party pieces you would like to perform? Let us know. We will provide a pianist to accompany you.

4. SINGING FROM THE GALLERY Every Saturday and Sunday evening before the curtain rises, you can experience the Festival’s “Singing from the Gallery”. This is a great way to get in the mood and if you like to sing, now is your chance! But don’t worry if you don’t know the words or don’t want to sing – just soak up the special atmosphere in this magnificent theatre and enjoy! Be in your seats by 7.10pm.

5. POT LUCK SHOWS You can apply to be a Principal or join the Chorus of three Festival Club “Pot-Luck presentations”: Princess Ida, Wednesday August 7th; HMS Pinafore, Wednesday August 14th; Iolanthe, Friday August 16th.

6. VOLUNTEERS We couldn’t put the Festival on without our fantastic band of volunteers. We need people to man the café, the G&S shop, help to sell programmes and all manner of things. If you think you have what it takes and have some time to spare please get in touch.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE ABOVE EMAIL janet@gsfestivals.org 39

s Favourite musical numbers from around the world will be featured in our New Year concert programme in the Royal Hall, Harrogate on Saturday January 5th starring Nick Sales, Sarah Helsby Hughes, John Savournin and the augmented National Festival Orchestra. Aidan Faughey from Ireland will once again conduct a concert which gained rave reviews last year.

Tickets are now available online at www.gsfestivals.org or you can order from the pull-out section of this newsletter, or the Tourist Information Centre’s in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresbourough A special weekend ticket is also available including two nights bed and breakfast accommodation in the Crown Hotel; private Bucks Fizz reception; buffet lunch and Gala Dinner on Sunday January 6th , tickets to the Saturday Gala concert and to an afternoon of Opera and Operetta with Nick, Sarah and John on the Sunday afternoon and an evening with Flanders, Swann and others at night.

It’s a great musical way to start the New Year!

Nick Sales

40

Sarah Helsby Hughes

Aidan Faughey CONDUCTOR

John Savournin

Sally Robinson ORCHESTRA LEADER

RING IN THE NEW YEAR IN STYLE!

s all your favourites are here including...

CHAMPAGNE GALOP SOME ENCHANTED EVENING

LUMBYE SOUTH PACIFIC

MUSIC OF THE NIGHT

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA THE MAGIC FLUTE LA BELLE HELENE SHOWBOAT JOHN PHILIP

O ISIS AND OSIRIS JUDGEMENT OF PARIS OL' MAN RIVER STARS AND STRIPES LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY EINZUGSMARSCH PHIL THE FLUTER'S BALL DANDINI'S ARIA SERENADE VOICES OF SPRING IF I WERE A RICH MAN RADETZKY MARCH

PERCY FRENCH LA CENERENTOLA THE STUDENT PRINCE

JOHANN STRAUSS

ROSSINI ROMBERG

JOHANN STRAUSS

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF BOCK/HARNICK JOHANN STRAUSS FATHER

The Cost GRAND HALL & GRAND CIRCLE Grand CIRCLE Concessions

RODGERS/ HAMMERSTEIN ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER MOZART OFFENBACH JEROME KERN SOUSA ELGAR

£25 £32

USA

UK AUSTRIA FRANCE USA USA UK AUSTRIA IRELAND ITALY USA AUSTRIA USA AUSTRIA

You can book on page 36

(60+) Grand hall & Drand circle £2 off Children under 16 - 50% off Groups 10 - 29 (10% discount) 30+ (15% discount)

41

DENMARK

CRUISING WITH MUSIC! Imagine‌ cruising past castles and history with an Elegant Lady, half a dozen excellent soloists and a full band?

This is what Theatrical Adventures offer you between March 18 and 25, 2019, setting sail from Amsterdam along the magical river Rhine to Strausbourg.

As with other Theatrical Adventure cruises, there will be a chance to rehearse and perform G & S and dip your toes into a couple of popular opera choruses, all to be performed with the backing of an orchestra. There will also be an opportunity to bring your favourite song and perform it for fellow passengers in an evening devoted to Party Pieces.

We are very excited to be planning such a spectacular musical cruise - with some of your favourite soloists and an outstanding orchestra, conducted by the G & S Festival MD, Andrew Nicklin. Our soloists include...

SARAH HELSBY HUGHES

DAVID MENEZES

MATT SIVETER

JULIET MONTGOMERY

AIDAN EDWARDS

ANDREW NICKLIN

42

Highlights will include: • • • • • • •

A string quartet playing during the opening and closing cocktail parties; Two talks on ‘Putting a Show Together’, differentiating between the MD/Directors view and that of the musician playing in the pit; After dinner entertainment Three evening concerts, featuring opera, musicals and operetta; An evening concert of G & S, in which passengers (who want to participate) will be the chorus; A Party Piece evening; Gala concert, in which you will sing the opera choruses you have rehearsed onboard.

So, if you would enjoy travelling with Berlin, Bizet, Lehar, Lerner & Loewe, Mozart, Romberg, Rossini, Strauss, Puccini, Verdi, and naturally, Gilbert & Sullivan, you should book now for this musical voyage up the Rhine, with opportunities to visit several cities on this fascinating waterway, in the luxurious comfort of the newly renovated Elegant Lady.

Book now on page 36

If Music be the Food of Love, play on, whilst you cruise, eat, and drink - all at the same time!

The Cost Per person

Twin cabin top deck £1400 Twin Cabin Main Deck £1250 Single Cabin Main Deck £1400

43

i WONDERFUL! UNBELIEVABLE! FANTASTIC!

Just a few of the accolades of our Theatrical Nile Adventure last month. In fact it was so successful that we are planing to do a return journey in October 2019. You can order your brochure onage 36. These are some scenes from the Nile 2018.

We are planning a return to the Nile in October 2019. Tick the box on page 36 for details.

44

Goes up the

MOSELLE November 13 - 20 2019

The Moselle - one of the most picturesque rivers in Europe.

It "twists and turns its way between Trier and Koblenz along one of Germany's most beautiful river valleys."

Today, its hillsides are covered by terraced vineyards where "some of the best Rieslings grow", and numerous ruined castles dominate the hilltops above wine villages and towns that line the riverbanks.

Our cruise leaves Cologne on November 13, 2019 returning eight days later. It visits Koblenz, Cochem , Schweich, Remich, Bernkastel, Rudesheim and back. It is that time of the year when autumn colours transform the landscape; temperatures are pleasant and tourist crowds are beginning to reduce.

Of course all food is included in the price along with wines and beers and soft drinks with your meals and tips to the crew.

We have allocated more than 30 main deck cabins for single passengers WITH NO SUPPLEMENT.

THE ENTERTAINERS

Nick Sales

Sarah Helsby Hughes

Matt Siveter

You can participate in our semi-staged production of Iolanthe

Cost per person sharing a twin cabin on the top deck: £1400.

Cost per person sharing a twin cabin on the main deck: £1200.

Single cabins main deck: £1400

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

www.gsfestivals.org info@gsfestivals.org 01422 323 252

Getting around HARROGATE

Crowne Plaza Majestic Hotel Premier Inn

Utopia Pavilion Utopia Theatre The Royal Hall

The picture above shows just how compact the Festival is. With the Crown Hotel and the Old Swan equally close and some excellent nearby guesthouses you can see just how easy it is to get around. Your comfort is our ďŹ rst priority. You can walk from the Utopia Pavilion straight into the Royal Hall .

It really is as easy as that!

The Festival brings together a wonderful mix of leading performing groups who compete for the coveted Festival championship trophy. There are also professional performances from the outstanding National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, Charles Court Opera and FORBEAR! Theatre.

Adjoining the Royal Hall on one side is a veritable Gilbert and Sullivan wonderland called the "Utopia Pavilion." This is the place where everyone can meet from early morning until the early hours. There is a wide range of catering facilities; a bar; G&S shop; ďŹ lm shows; free lunchtime entertainment and every evening after the curtain falls the Festival club comes to life here, with singing and entertainment.

And at one end of the Pavilion is the Utopia Theatre. This is the venue for all our matinee performances including the UNIFest competition featuring leading British universities performing a fully staged Gilbert and Sullivan opera. As you can read in this newsletter there is a wide and varied range of performances scheduled throughout the Festival, including of course our youth production.

The complex is also the venue for our morning fringe activities which will include some interesting and original presentations.

With Harrogate's major hotels only minutes away by foot you can see why this is such an ideal venue for such a special Festival.

There is no doubt the magic of G&S endures and the Festival embraces the very best. We look forward to sharing it with you in August 46

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

THE FORMAT HARROGATE

The Gilbert and Sullivan Festival was founded in 1994 and for the first 20 years was staged in Buxton Opera House in the Derbyshire Peak District.

In 2014 the Festival moved to its new location in Harrogate.

The Festival is renowned for its friendly welcome and visitors return year after year to soak up its special atmosphere.

A TYPICAL DAY AT THE FESTIVAL...

10.30am G&S related fringe presentations Royal Hall Complex 1.00pm Free Lunchtime Entertainment Utopia Pavilion 1.45pm 10 minute introduction to the Royal Hall matinee performances Utopia Pavilion 2.30pm Matinée Performances Utopia Theatre or The Royal Hall 6.45pm 10 minute introduction to the Royal Hall evening performances Utopia Pavilion 7.30pm Professional, semi-professional and amateur productions The Royal Hall 10.00pm Nightly Festival Club including Cabarets Utopia Pavilion

THE NATIONAL GILBERT AND SULLIVAN OPERA COMPANY has been the resident professional company at the Festival for 25 years. In 2014 the Company embarked on its first tour of the country to outstanding press reviews and audience acclaim. Next year will be our sixth touring season with four brand-new productions. The shows are traditional, presented by Britain's leading professional experts of the wonderful Gilbertian characters which they portray. You can see them all in Buxton and Harrogate.

"THIS IS GILBERT & SULLIVAN HEAVEN! YOU CAN SEE PERFORMANCES EVERY MORNING, AFTERNOON AND EVENING.” The Arts Desk 47

The utopiA Theatre Seating Plan

An outline illustRation of the Utopia Theatre which we will build in the Utopia Pavilion

SPECIAL TIERED SEATING M

48

The royal hall

Seating Plan

DRESS CIRCLE

4 5 6 1 2 3

1 1 1 1 1

13 14 15 7 8 9 10 11 12

1 1 1 1 1

3

8 9 10 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7 6 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 2 3 4 5 6 7

11 12 11 12 11 12

RAISED

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12”

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

6”

C B A

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

6 5 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

E D C B A

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

8

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

£25.00 £37.00

31 32 33 34 31 32 33 34 31 32 33 34

BOXES B, C, D, E, G, H, J (for two people)

31 32 33 34 31 32 33 34 31 32 33 34 30 31 32

£60.00 £85.00

30 31 32 24”

STAIRS 18”

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

GRAND CIRCLE & GRAND HALL RAISED

31 32 33 34

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

£20.00 £25.00

12” 6”

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

BOXES A & F (for two people.

Restricted view)

£46.00 £60.00

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

ORCHESTRA EXITS

STAGE

ACCESSIBLE SEATING

STAGE

49

BOX G BOX F

8 9 10 11 12

N M L K J H G F

DRESS CIRCLE

7

FLAT

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

J H G F E D C B A

GRAND HALL

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

FLAT

BOX E

11 12

11 8 9 10 3 4 5 6 7

18”

E D

Professional performance prices in RED

BOX J BOX H

BOX C BOX D

11 12

16 17 13 14 15 16 17 13 14 15 16 17 15 14 13 16 17 13 14 15 16 17 15 14 13 16 17 13 14 15 16 17 13 14 15 16 15 14 12 13 15 16 12 13 14

24” 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

STAIRS

G F

11 12 13 14 15 16

RAISED

BOX A BOX B

4

11 12 8 9 10 2 3 4 5 6 7 11 12 10 9 8 2 3 4 5 6 7 11 7 8 9 10 1 2

H

GRAND CIRCLE

2

1

8 9 10

13 14 15 16 8 9 10 11 12 5 6 7 2 3 4 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 9 8 5 6 7 2 3 4 13 14 15 16 8 9 10 11 12 5 6 7 2 3 4 14 15 16 13 8 9 10 11 12 5 6 7 2 3 4 14 15 16 13 12 11 8 9 10 5 6 7 2 3 4 13 14 15 12 11 10 9 8 4 5 6 7 1 2 3

1 1

7

6

5

FRONT GRAND HALL

£23.00 £30.00

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 7Th

Royal Hall

Matinee 2.30pm Evening 7.30pm

(A brief introduction to the show will be given in the Utopia Pavilion 45 minutes before each Royal Hall performance)

The Gondoliers

The National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company We open the 26th International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival with one of the most joyous and colourful operas – The Gondoliers. And what better start could we have than matinee and evening productions by our own National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company.

Of course it is a love story. A story of mistaken identity. Two Gondoliers have just got married but are informed that one of them is the King of Barataria.

But which one? Nobody knows so they have to go to Barataria and reign jointly. Their problems worsen when it is discovered that the King was married when a baby to the beautiful daughter of the Duke of Plaza-Toro and is thus identified as an unintentional bigamist! Don’t worry! In typical Gilbertian manner it all ends happily amid a cascade of sparkling music and dance.

We have a fabulous line-up of principals for the show and our chorus must be the envy of every Opera Company in Britain. Many are fresh out of music college or university full of youthful talent excitement and enthusiasm as they start out on their career. And what better start than with some wonderful Gilbert and Sullivan.

2:30PM Brainstorm! Halt the amateur G&S decline

Utopia Theatre FREE

Representatives from amateur groups and universities are invited to discuss a strategy for the future of Gilbert & Sullivan.

10PM

Late night Festival Club and Cabraret. Utopia Pavilion £3.

Tonight we present HMS Pinafore. The audience is the chorus.

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Thursday AUGUST 8Th £7.50

10.30am

UTOPIA PAVILION

1pm

LUNCH TIME ENTERTAINMENT

Utopia Pavilion

2.30pm

Hull University G&S Society Utopia Theatre UNIFest

THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD £15.00

Stephen Turnbull, secretary of the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society is, as you would expect, a Sullivan expert and this morning he digs out of his treasure chest some fascinating background information to The Mikado and The Pirates of Penzance including rare musical illustrations.

FREE

We are always delighted to welcome the return of the Hull group. Previous winners and runners-up of the UNIFest competition you can be sure of a strong start to this year’s competition with a performance of Yeomen – a favourite for many G&S lovers.

7.30pm

PATIENCE

FORBEAR! Theatre

£20.00 - £30.00

ROYAL HALL

Forbear! Theatre is a professional company that has been producing G&S since 2015.

They treat the operas like ordinary plays and use the text and music to dictate their movement. They made a very popular debut at the Festival last year with a sparkling “Iolanthe” and we are delighted to welcome them back this year with what is sure to be a most entertaining Patience.

10PM

Late night Festival Club and Cabaret. Utopia Pavilion £3.

Cabaret time with our friends from FORBEAR!

51

Friday AUGUST 9Th 10.30am

UTOPIA PAVILION

£7.50

In Conversation With Bruce Graham. We are bringing back this very popular morning series where our Festival Director chats with major stars of the Opera Company. And what a start this morning, Bruce Graham has starred in many West End Productions - most recently Follies. Come and hear his story.

1pm

LUNCHTIME ENTERTAINMENT

2.30pm

Utopia Pavilion

FREE RUDDIGORE £15.00

Birmingham G&S Society Utopia Theatre, UNIFest

Innovation has been one of the trademarks of Birmingham’s previous visits to the Festival. Now celebrating their eleventh year as a society this will be their fifth time in Harrogate. They are known as the “university’s award-winning comic opera Society”, always on the lookout for enthusiastic singers.

7.30pm

Iolanthe

New London Opera Group

£20.00 - £30.00

ROYAL HALL

The New London Opera Group will be hoping to go one better at next year’s festival.

In 2017 they were the second runners-up. In 2018 they were runners-up with an outstanding production of “Patience.” In 2019 they return with Iolanthe, the story of a fairy who has been banished from fairyland for marrying a mortal.

The New London Opera Group affectionately known as NEWLog was founded in 2003 by the disbanded University of London Opera group. Although G&S forms the backbone of the group’s repertoire they are not afraid to explore other sections of the British operatic repertoire. They have a very happy second home at the Riverhead Theatre in Louth Lincolnshire.

10PM

Late night Festival Club and Cabaret. Utopia Pavilion £3.

Cabaret time with our friends from NEWLOG!

52

Saturday AUGUST 10 10.00 10.30am

MEMORABILIA FAIR Utopia Pavilion Tables available £75 each Organising a Festival and Backstage Tour UTOPIA PAVILION £7.50

Festival Founder and artistic director Ian Smith tells us how each festival develops and what goes into the mix. We then go walkabout and see for ourselves the backstage secrets – the scenery and the hundreds of costumes and props involved in bringing the National G&S Opera Company to Harrogate.

12noon

sponsored WALK TO PRESERVE THE FESTIVAL (See Page 35)

1pm

LUNCHTIME ENTERTAINMENT

2.30pm

Royal Holloway University Utopia Theatre, Uni Fest

Utopia Pavilion

Free

THE SORCERER

£15.00

Last year saw the debut of the Royal Holloway University Savoy Opera Society in Harrogate – and what a debut it was. They were runners-up in the overall competition and in addition won the best chorus prize; and shared the best female performer award.

ROYAL HALL 7.10pm Singing From The Gallery Matinee 2.30pm anD Evening 7.30pm

THE MIKADO £30.00 to £42.50 The National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company The Mikado – The most popular Gilbert and Sullivan opera, and arguably the most popular opera ever written. This opera has delighted audiences for more than a century, and spawned a number of imitations. But none were nearly as good as the original, which represented both Gilbert and Sullivan at the height of their creative geniuses.

Festival favourite Richard Gauntlett returns to direct and star in this hilarious opera – and you can be sure he will deliver a joyous traditional production.

10PM

Late night Festival Club and Cabaret. Utopia Pavilion £3.

Tonight is the first of four special cabaret presentations from our highly talented Opera Company Chorus. it will be special!

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sunday AUGUST 11Th 11.00am

ANNUAL GILBERT & SULLIVAN CHURCH SERVICE

1pm

LUNCHTIME ENTERTAINMENT

Utopia Pavilion

2.30pm

Durham Opera Ensemble, UNIFest

Utopia Theatre

Free IOLANTHE £15.00

Making their debut at the 2019 Festival will be Durham Opera Ensemble (DOE) a student opera company regularly showcasing some of Britain’s finest student musical talent in and around Durham University.

2.30pm

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company Royal Hall £30.00 to £42.50 Richard Gauntlett is back with his hilarious Pirates of Penzance. He is supported by a strong cast and our own National Gilbert and Sullivan Festival Orchestra.

Frederic as a child was apprenticed to a band of tenderhearted, orphaned pirates by his nurse who, being hard of hearing, had mistaken her master's instructions to apprentice the boy to a pilot. By the end of the opera, the pirates, a Major General who knows nothing of military strategy, his large family of beautiful daughters, and the timid constabulary contribute to a cacophony that can be silenced only by Queen Victoria's name.

ROYAL HALL 7.10pm Singing From The Gallery

7:30pm

THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD

National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company Royal Hall £30.00 - £42.50

The setting of Yeomen is the Tower of London in the sixteenth century. The plot concerns Colonel Fairfax, who has been sentenced to death on a false charge of sorcery.

To avoid leaving his estate to his accuser (a cousin), Fairfax secretly marries Elsie Maynard, a strolling singer, who expects to be a well-paid widow within the hour.

Fairfax escapes, throwing the Tower and everyone in it into despair!

10PM

Late night Festival Club and Cabaret. Utopia Pavilion £3.

Tonight is the second of four special cabaret presentations from our highly talented Opera Company Chorus. it will be special!

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Monday AUGUST 12Th 10.30am

Sullivan's Light of the World

UTOPIA PAVILION

£7.50

The Light of the World - Sullivan's oratorio on the life of Jesus was one of his most ambitious and majestic works. Using extracts from the recent professional recording, Ian Bradley introduces and explores this intriguing and important choral work into which Sullivan put his musical talents and his faith.

1pm

LUNCHTIME ENTERTAINMENT

Utopia Pavilion

FREE

2.30pm

RUDDIGORE UNIFest. King’s College London

Utopia Theatre

£15.00

King’s College are the reigning UNIFest champions for their memorable “puppet” production of Trial by Jury coupled with HMS Pinafore. In addition the group won best male voice, best costumes and best director. We can’t wait to see what they will do with Ruddigore!

7.30pm

THE SORCERER

Peak Opera ROYAL HALL £20.00-£30.00 Peak Opera was founded in 2005 especially to perform at the festival in Buxton – hence the name “Peak!” Over the years they have gone from strength to strength bringing performers to the festival from a wide variety of sources. They were runners up in 2014 and 2016.

After the resounding success of their one-act opera Trial By Jury in 1875, Gilbert and Sullivan, and their producer Richard D'Oyly Carte, decided to produce a full-length work, The Sorcerer. Gilbert expanded on one of his earlier writings based on a favourite operatic theme to create a plot about a magic love potion that would result in everyone falling in love with the wrong partner.

10PM

Late night Festival Club and Cabaret. Utopia Pavilion £3.

Cabaret time with our friends from Peak Opera!

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Tuesday AUGUST 13Th 10.30am Learning from the Ladies: What the G&S Women Can Teach Us. Today

UTOPIA PAVILION £7.50

Adriane Berg delighted her audience last year when she presented a light-hearted yet serious look at “love, looks and laughter as G&S take on ageing.” Adriane is an American Emmy Award winning broadcaster and host of the radio show “Generation Bold – The Fountain of Truth About Ageing.” Don’t miss this sequel.

1pm

LUNCHTIME ENTERTAINMENT

Utopia Pavilion

2.30pm

Pirates of Penzance, UNIFest.

Utopia Theatre University of York Gilbert & Sullivan Society

FREE £15.00

Now in its 46th season it is our pleasure to welcome the return of York University G&S Society. They are a very active all-inclusive society that rehearse and perform three or four musicals throughout the year. In Autumn term they present, a collaborative concert with the JORVIK York G&S Society and in Spring, they perform their main, fully staged G&S production in the Joseph Rowntree Theatre.

7.30pm

TRIAL by JURY & HMS PINAFORE

Bus Pass Opera

Royal Hall £20.00-£30.00

Established exclusively for the over 60s this will be Bus Pass Opera’s sixth production and there is no doubt their audience support grows year on year. The performers themselves boast an amazing pedigree of experience in performing Gilbert and Sullivan and they certainly demonstrate that age is no barrier to the clear delivery of Gilbert words and the articulation of Sullivan’s music.

10PM

Late night Festival Club and Cabaret. Utopia Pavilion £3.

Cabaret time with our friends from Bus Pass Opera!

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Wednesday AUGUST 14Th 10.00

VISIT TO THE MODEL VILLAGE OF SALTAIRE

£25.00

This morning we offer a sightseeing visit to Saltaire, West Yorkshire, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre featuring a complete and well-preserved industrial village of the second half of the 19th century. Its textile mills, public buildings and workers' housing are built in a harmonious style of high architectural standards and the urban plan survives intact, giving a vivid impression of Victorian philanthropic paternalism. Salts Mill features a large art display by local artist David Hockney.

10.30am Meet The Gondoliers and the Yeomen of the Guard

Utopia Theatre £7.50

Stephen Turnbull returns to introduce us to some of the fascinating background to two of this year’s Opera Company productions. As long time secretary of the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society, with one of the largest G&S record collections in the world, he is the ideal commentator to the history of these two favourite shows.

1pm

LUNCHTIME ENTERTAINMENT

Utopia Pavilion

FREE

2.30pm

UNBREAKABLE BOND

UTOPIA THEATRE

£15.00

Introducing Catrine Kirkman in a specially written one-woman show about the soubrette star of the original Savoy Operas, Jessie Bond.

With David Eaton at the piano, the show explores the colourful life of this fantastic woman whose captivating stage presence drew admiration from both Gilbert and Sullivan in her D'Oyly Carte debut creating the role of Cousin Hebe in HMS Pinafore.

2.30pm

THE MIKADO

,

National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company ROYAL HALL £25.00 to £42.50 Festival favourite Richard Gauntlett returns to direct and star in this hilarious opera – and you can be sure he will deliver a joyous traditional production.

7.10pm ROYAL HALL

7.30pm

Singing from the Gallery

THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD

National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company ROYAL HALL £25.00 to £42.50

Sullivan at his best. Wonderful music. Dramatic Story. Fantastic cast. It is set in the Tower of London and is the nearest that Gilbert and Sullivan got to Grand Opera. It will be a night to remember.

10PM

Late night Festival Club and Cabaret. Utopia Pavilion £3.

Cabaret time with a special Pot-luck presentation of HMS Pinafore. The audience is the chorus!

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Thursday AUGUST 15Th 10.30am

D’OYLY CARTE INSIDE OUT

UTOPIA PAVILION

£7.50

1pm

LUNCHTIME ENTERTAINMENT

Utopia Pavilion

FREE

2.30pm

IOLANTHE, Unifest Utopia Theatre Oxford Gilbert and Sullivan Society

Roberta Morrell is back with more recollections from her latest book “The D’Oyly Carte – Inside Out!” Roberta is a highly respected figure in the global Gilbert and Sullivan community and honorary president of the New York G&S Society; an ex-original D’Oyly Carte principal, director and author. She will be telling more of her D’Oyly Carte life.

£15.00

We are delighted to welcome the Oxford Gilbert & Sullivan Society to this year’s UNIFest. The society is one of Oxford’s oldest and most prestigious, officially dating back to 1927, although it existed unofficially for some years before then. Their alumni include national directors and conductors, and the society was featured in the Oscar-winning film, ‘Chariots of Fire’.

7.30pm

SAVOYNET

PRINCESS IDA

,

ROYAL HALL £20.00-£30.00

SavoyNet are the current International Champions following their outstanding production of “Patience” last year. Founded in 1994 by Bill Venman, an American G&S enthusiast who wanted to communicate with like-minded individuals via the newfangled Internet it now has almost 1000 Google and Facebook members around the world. The Savoynet performing group first performed at the festival in 1997 and has presented a full-length opera every year since 1999 rehearsing for a week prior to the single performance. With its innovative production of Thespis in 2014, Savoynet became the only group to complete the full 14 opera canon at the festival. Over the years participants from around the world have won numerous nominations and awards.

10PM

Late night Festival Club and Cabaret. Utopia Pavilion £3.

Cabaret time with our friends from Savoynet!

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friday AUGUST 16Th 10am A VISIT TO RIPON – THE UNSPOILT CATHEDRAL CITY

£15.00

This cathedral city is a North Yorkshire gem, . With its imposing cathedral, fascinating museums and a bustling market square, there is plenty to entertain the visitor.

10.30am In Conversation with Nicholas sales

UTOPIA PAVILION

£7.50

In Conversation with Nicholas Sales. The second of this year’s series. We meet another of the stars of our National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company and learn more of his path to success and his long term association with the Festival.

1pm 2.30pm

LUNCHTIME ENTERTAINMENT Utopia Pavilion FREE Show to be confirmed. University of Southampton Light Opera Society , Unifest UTOPIA THEATRE £15.00

LOpSoc, the award-winning University of Southampton Light Opera Society are looking forward to their return to Harrogate. This friendly group with a strong, enthusiastic community of present and past members put on at least two shows and one tour each academic year. They also have regular socials, workshops for members and recitals within the society.

It is Charles Court day at the Festival.

Charles Court Opera is a highly inventive chamber company, based in London, specialising in intimate performance. CCO has been described as one of the leading chamber companies taking opera and theatre into previously inaccessible places, and as leaders of the current reinvigoration of Gilbert and Sullivan in London, described as “the masters of G&S in small places”. They have performed across the UK in venues ranging from pub theatres to concert halls, and have toured internationally to Spain, the USA, Ireland and France.

2.30pm HMS Pinafore CHARLES COURT OPERA, Royal Hall £25.00 to £42.50

2.30pm All aboard a Royal Navy submarine for some of Sullivan’s sunniest music with a repeat of their ever-popular HMS Pinafore.

7.30PM RUDDIGORE ‘CHARLES COURT OPERA, Royal Hall £25.00 to £42.50

John Savournin brings a brand new production of RUDDIGORE. It promises an evening of infectious choruses, great Sullivan music and the unique wit and energy of a Charles Court Opera production to be enjoyed by all ages.

10PM

Late night Festival Club and Cabaret. Utopia Pavilion £3.

Cabaret time with a special Pot-luck presentation of HMS Pinafore. The audience is the chorus!

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Saturday AUGUST 17Th 10.30am Planning a festival and backstage visit

UTOPIA PAVILION

£7.50

If you missed it last week – here’s another opportunity. Ian Smith tells us how each festival develops and what goes into the mix. We then go walkabout and see for ourselves the backstage secrets – the scenery, the hundreds of costumes and props involved in bringing the National G&S Opera Company to Harrogate.

1pm LUNCHTIME ENTERTAINMENT Utopia Pavilion 2.30pm THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE YOUTH PRODUCTION Utopia Theatre

FREE £15.00

Always a highlight of the festival is our annual youth production. Youngsters aged between nine and 19 travel from home and overseas for a week of intensive rehearsals with a professional director and conductor. The fruits of their labour – an outstanding new full-scale production. This year it is that all time favourite “The Pirates of Penzance.”

Don’t miss it!

2.30pm

THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD

National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company ROYAL HALL £25.00 to £42.50

The Yeomen of the Guard, or The Merryman and His Maid is Gilbert and Sullivan’s sparkling comic opera. It is the most emotionally engaging of the Savoy Operas. The show takes place in the Tower of London where the gentleman Colonel Fairfax is wrongly accused of sorcery and sentenced to death within the hour. Fairfax hatches a plan to avoid letting his estate fall into the hands of his scheming cousin by secretly marrying Elsie Maynard, a strolling singer. She agrees to be blindfolded during the ceremony and expects to be a wealthy widow upon Fairfax's imminent demise, leaving her free to marry the jester Jack Point. Fairfax miraculously escapes his fate and chaos ensues.

7.30pm

THE MIKADO Singing from the Gallery 7.10pm ROYAL HALL

National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company ROYAL HALL £25.00 to £42.50

The idea for The Mikado reputedly first sprang into W.S. Gilbert's mind when an old Japanese sword, which had been hanging on the wall of his study for years, suddenly fell from its place. Gilbert took this as an omen. He did not have to look far to research the subject of his new play. He found all the material he wanted in Knightsbridge, a little village of Japanese immigrants within a mile of his own home in South Kensington. Here, he witnessed the strange arts, devices and lifestyles of this proud race and decided to use an Asian background as a means of poking fun once again at the British establishment.

10PM

Late night Festival Club and Cabaret. Utopia Pavilion £3.

Tonight we have a special cabaret from our highly talented Opera Company Chorus. it will be special!

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Sunday AUGUST 18Th 10.30am IN CONVERSATION WITH RICHARD GAUNTLETT

£7.50

Our final “In Conversation” is with our comedy star Richard Gauntlett.

He has had a fascinating career from starring alongside Michael Crawford in “Barnum” to chairing the famous Leeds City Varieties; writing and performing in pantomime and performing on board some of the world’s major cruise liners – and of course directing and performing with our own Opera Company.

12.45pm FESTIVAL LUNCH – Crown Hotel

£28.00

Come and join our G&S Themed final day lunch at the Crown Hotel in Harrogate. We have a number of surprises in store – and you will have time to get across to the Royal Hall for the matinees.

2.30pm

THE GONDOLIERS

National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company Royal Hall £25.00 to £42.50 The critics loved The Gondoliers. Leslie Bailey wrote: “The bubbling, champagne-quality of the libretto brought out the gayest Sullivan, and the Italian setting called up a warm, southern response from his own ancestry”. The Graphic (14 December 1889) pointed out that the music contains not only an English idiom but 'the composer has borrowed from France the stately gavotte, from Spain the Andalusian cachucha, from Italy the saltarello and the tarantella, and from Venice itself the Venetian barcarolle'.

7.30pm

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company ROYAL HALL £25.00 to £42.50

The curtain falls on the 26th International Festival with a performance of the most popular of all the shows - The Pirates of Penzance. Director Richard Gauntlett squeezes every ounce of humour from the script – and just listen and admire the soloists and the fantastic chorus. It is indeed an appropriate conclusion to what we hope you will agree has been an outstanding festival.

10PM

We bid Goodbye! Final Festival Club

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FREE

GiftS for Haddon Hall – DVD & CD Box Set - £25

The National G&S Opera Company 4 DVD, 5 Show Box Set £60

This Spectacular box set features the 5 of the 5 star touring productions from this year’s national tour: The Pirates of Penzance, Ruddigore, Iolanthe, Trial By Jury & The Sorcerer. Buy this limited edition box set now and save £20!

An undoubted highlight of this year’s Festival must be the National G&S Opera Company’s production of Haddon Hall. This professionally produced DVD Haddon Hall & CD box set will fill the hole Individually in even the most avid G&S CD £8 enthusiast collection DVD £19.99

Sullivan Overtures Concert DVD & CD Box Set - £25

Whatever your mood – there is an overture to suit it! James Hendry and the National Festival Orchestra certainly demonstrate that in their beautiful Sullivan Overture concert. Available as a DVD & CD Box Set.

THE WINNERS – 2018

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS SavoyNet PATIENCE SECOND RUNNERS UP FIRST RUNNERS UP BUS PASS OPERA NEWLOG THE YEOMEN OF THE PATIENCE GUARD

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Individually CD £8 DVD £19.99

Buy the boxed set of the three 2018 winners for just £39.99 – save £15 International Champions, SavoyNet with their performance of PATIENCE; runners-up New London Opera Group with their Patience and in third place, Bus Pass Opera with The Yeomen of the Guard All the 2018 productions are available to buy online at www.gsfestivals.org or by phone: 01422 323252.

Order Ref: BSWS/18

DVDS now available in (please call 01422 323 252) See more christmas gifts online www.gsfestivals.org 62

ChristmaS! T H E

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

R O YA L H A L L

H A R R O G AT E T H E AT R E

Gift Voucher!

£......

Festival Gift Card - £20 / £50 / £100 Give the gift of Gilbert & Sullivan with this 26th Festival Gift Card. Values of £20, £50 or £100, each gift card can be redeemed against theatre tickets to the upcoming Gilbert & Sullivan Festival.

CHRISTMAS CARDS Pack of 6 Christmas cards with envelopes, Size: A5 Message: “Seasons Greetings” £4.99 Order Ref: BAU/XC17 GILBERT & SULLIVAN’S CHRISTMAS compiled by John van der Kiste A charming Christmas gift.

Order No: BKGSX/17 Was £9.99 now only £6.99 (limited stocks!)

John Reed Patter Songs CD and Pictorial Biography Book SPECIAL CHRISTMAS OFFER: £13.99 or CD £11.50 Book £5.00

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RETURN TO:

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COST

(and ORCHESTRA!)

CRUISE UP THE RHINE! MARCH 18 - 25 2019

This eight day, seven night cruise starts and finishes in Amsterdam – easily reached by Eurostar train or plane. Our holiday home is the outstanding premium class "Elegant Lady.” Its 64 staterooms overlook the river.

This is our own exclusive vessel. It is a holiday of discovery – Amsterdam, Koblenz, the amazing Rhine Gorge, Speyer, Strasbourg, and back via Mainz, Heidleberg, and Cologne.

And when we are not exploring there is plenty of time to relax – or sing – or listen to our entertainers and our Orchestra. The sightseeing is spectacular and so too the culinary delights.

Our Entertainers

SARAH HELSBY HUGHES

DAVID MENEZES

MATT SIVETER

JULIET MONTGOMERY

AIDAN EDWARDS

ANDREW NICKLIN

BOOK NOW ON PAGE 36

If music be the food of love play on, cruise, eat, drink and be merry!

THE COST

Cost per person Twin cabin top deck £1450 Twin cabin main deck £1350 Single cabin main deck £1350