Dear Festival Friend

We are sorry to leave beautiful Harrogate behind, but, at the same time, feel very excited to return to Buxton, our spiritual home and the place where the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival began in 1994.

It was a tough decision to go, but it was one that we had to make if we wanted to keep the Festival going. We have not enjoyed an easy relationship with the management of Harrogate Convention Centre in the past few years, but did not anticipate leaving the town lock, stock and barrel in 2023. We have invested heavily in staging the Festival there since 2014, but there comes a time when a challenging relationship simply becomes too unpleasant and financially impossible to continue.

Now we want to move onwards and upwards to a fantastic 29th Festival. We take our hats off to the management team at Buxton Opera House who pulled out all the stops to sort out an extended contract in record time, and for the fantastic support and welcome we have received from the town. The programme is fantastic. In the beautiful Opera House, our acclaimed National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company will perform The Mikado, The Yeomen of the Guard and The Pirates of Penzance. And we are delighted to see more competing groups than we have had since 2018. Peak Opera (The Gondoliers), North West Productions (TBJ, The Zoo & Cox and Box), Bus Pass Opera (HMS Pinafore), New London Opera Group (The Sorcerer), SavoyNet Performing Group (Ruddigore) and Brussels Light Opera Company (Iolanthe).

In the adjoining Pavilion Arts Centre, UNIFest is back with five universities participating. Opera North will bring a youth production of Trial by Jury, and the Festival Youth Production will be The Pirates of Penzance.

There is so much to do and see; we know you will love it. Remember, if you need help booking your tickets or if you have any questions, please get in touch.