Summer What's On Guide 2024

Discover the magic of the Douro River, one of Europe’s most breathtaking waterways, stretching from Spain to Portugal and winding through some of the continent’s most stunning landscapes.

This cruise is an absolute favourite, blending spectacular scenery, great food, and world-class entertainment. Highlights include a guided tour of Porto with wine tasting, an excursion to the historic city of Salamanca, and an exploration of the Porto Wine Route, complete with delightful winetasting stops. You’ll also visit the charming town of Lamego, rich in culture and history.

Our sensational lineup of opera singers features Bruce Graham, Joe Shovelton, Phoebe Smith, and our onboard musical director Christopher Milton.

Join us for an adventure filled with unforgettable moments, breathtaking views, and extraordinary performances. Book your Douro River Cruise today and enjoy a truly wonderful Theatrical Adventure.

For more information go to www.theatricaladventures. com, call 01422 323252 or email oliver@theatricaladventures. com

A Theatrical Adventure River Cruise on the Rhine for two people sharing a cabin (25 March – 1 April 2025 – Value £3600)

A three-night accommodation and theatre package for two people at the 2025 Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, sharing a twin/double room in the Lee Wood Hotel, Buxton (Value £1320)

Be part of our fabulous GRAND FESTIVAL DRAW. Not only could you be in with a chance of winning some fantastic prizes but you will also help to ensure the future of the International G&S Festival for years to come! ALL proceeds will help support our Opera House productions, Festival Youth Production, Bus Pass Opera, UNIFest and more. 1st Prize 2nd Prize 3rd Prize

20 runners-up prizes of a pair of tickets to the 31st G&S Festival in Buxton Opera House in 2025

And that’s not all! Tickets purchased during the Festival will be entered into our

draw with many more

Festival at a glance

Key

BOH Buxton Opera House

PAC Pavilion Arts Centre

SJC St John's Church

PG Pavilion Gardens

OCT Octagon Foyer

LWH Lee Wood Hotel

PH Palace Hotel

Saturday 27 July

2.30 pm The Gondoliers NGSOC BOH

7.30 pm The Gondoliers NGSOC BOH

10.00 pm Festival Club and Cabaret PG

Sunday 28 July

10.30 am Introduction to The Pirates of Penzance Stephen Turnbull PH

1.00 pm Classical Pops SJC

2.30 pm The Pirates of Penzance NGSOC BOH

7.30 pm The Pirates of Penzance NGSOC BOH

10.00 pm Festival Club and Cabaret PG

Monday 29 July

10.30 am The Tiny World of Toy Theatres Trevor Griffin

1.00 pm Classical Pops

2.30 pm Flanders and Swann Donald Maxwell and Chris Milton

7.30 pm The Yeomen of the Guard Grosvenor Light Opera Company BOH

10.00 pm Festival Club and Cabaret PG

Tuesday 30 July

10.30 am Painful Though The Duty Be Chris Milton and Fergus Butler-Gallie

1.00 pm Classical Pops

2.30 pm The Three Amigos Bonaventura Bottone, Donald Maxwell, Richard Suart SJC

7.30 pm The Gondoliers Edinburgh G&S Society BOH

10.00 pm Festival Club and Cabaret PG

Wednesday 31 July

10.30 am Introduction to HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury Stephen Turnbull SJC

1.00 pm Classical Pops SJC 2.30 pm Edinburgh G&S Society Entertain SJC

2.30 pm HMS Pinafore & Trial by Jury NGSOC BOH

7.30 pm HMS Pinafore & Trial by Jury NGSOC BOH

10.00 pm Festival Club and Cabaret PG

Thursday 1 August

10.30 am Herbert Sullivan and Sir Arthur - Elaine Richardson SJC

1.00 pm Classical Pops SJC

2.30 pm Princess Ida York University PAC

7.30 pm Iolanthe - Peak Opera BOH 10.00 pm Festival Club and Cabaret PG

Friday 2 August

10.30 am Taking the Waters Again Ian Bradley SJC 1.00 pm Classical Pops SJC 2.30 pm Ruddigore Birmingham University PAC

2.30 pm The Sorcerer Charles Court Opera BOH

7.30 pm The Sorcerer Charles Court Opera BOH 10.00 pm Festival Club and Cabaret PG

Saturday 3 August

10-4pm Memorabilia Fair All day OF

10.30 am A Matter of Life and Death - Ian Bradley SJC

1.00 pm Classical Pops SJC

2.30 pm The Best of G&S - New NGSOC BOH

7.30 pm The Pirates of Penzance NGSOC BOH

10.00 pm Festival Club and Cabaret PG

Sunday 4 August

11.00 am Festival Church Service St John's Church

12.45 pm Festival Luncheon Lee Wood Hotel LWH

2.30 pm The Pirates of Penzance NGSOC BOH

7.30 pm HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury NGSOC BOH

10.00 pm Festival Club and Cabaret PG

Monday 5 August

10.30 am Herbert Sullivan and The Gilberts - Elaine Richardson SJC

1.00 pm Classical Pops SJC

2.30 pm The Pirates of Penzance Harrogate G&S Society PAC

7.30 pm The Grand Duke Savoy Company BOH

10.00 pm Festival Club and Cabaret PG

Tuesday 6 August

10.30 am The History of the Trumpet Anthony Thompson SJC

1.00 pm Classical Pops SJC

2.30 pm Mr Jericho The Lyra Players SJC

6.15 pm Bus departs for an Evening at Chatsworth House BOH

7.30 pm Patience - Bus Pass Opera BOH

10.00 pm Festival Club and Cabaret PG

Wednesday 7 August

10.30 am Introduction to The Gondoliers -Stephen Turnbull SJC

1.00 pm Classical Pops SJC

2.30 pm The Gondoliers NGSOC BOH

7.30 pm The Gondoliers NGSOC BOH

10.00 pm Festival Club and Cabaret PG

Thursday 8 August

10.30 am Staging Ivanhoe David Wilmore SJC

1.00 pm Classical Pops SJC

2.30 pm Princess Ida - Oxford Uni PAC

7.30 pm The Mikado SavoyNet Performing Group BOH

10.00 pm Festival Club and Cabaret PG

Friday 9 August

10.30 am Travelling with G&S Adriane Berg SJC

1.00 pm Classical Pops SJC

2.30 pm The Pirates of Penzance NGSOC BOH

5.00 pm Awards Ceremony PAC

7.30 pm The Best of G&S - New NGSOC BOH

10.00 pm Festival Club and Cabaret PG

Saturday 10 August

10.30 am Coffee and Conversation with Murray Hipkin SJC

1.00 pm Classical Pops SJC

2.30 pm The Sorcerer Youth Production PAC

2.30 pm HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury NGSOC BOH

7.30 pm The Gondoliers NGSOC BOH

10.00 pm Festival Club and Cabaret PG

Don't Forget the Festival Fringe

There is never a dull moment at the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, and our jam-packed fringe programme ensures there is something to do morning, noon and night.

Each morning during the Festival, there will be talks about all things G&S (£8.50) in St John's Church (across the road behind the Opera House). You can book on the door.

Make sure you don't miss the Classical Pops with our talented singers. These short recitals commence at 1.00 pm in St John's Church every lunchtime.

At 2.30 pm there will be a matinee performance in the Pavilion Arts Centre or St John's Church. See the daily programme for details.

And every evening at 10.00 pm, after the curtain drops in the Opera House, our famous Festival Club opens next door in the Pavilion Gardens. You can enjoy entertainment, supper and a bar until the early hours. Entry is £3.

New Walks Announced

Discover Buxton has put together some exciting walks around Buxton for our visitors. You can book these online at discoverbuxton.co.uk or call 07530 457755. Discover Buxton have a fantastic range of tours, so make sure you check their website.

Sunday 28 July and Friday 9 August 2.30 pm

HISTORY & HERITAGE WALK

£12 (from the Opera House)

Friday 2 August and Tuesday 6 August 11.00 am

MISS LILIAN VIOLET BOWDINE REVEALS THE HISTORY OF BUXTON'S THEATRES £15

Join Miss Lillian on the steps of Buxton Opera House at 11 am for a fabulous promenade performance.

Please make sure you prebook your walk to avoid disapointment!

Your day at the Festival

Be sure to make the most of your visit to the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival! Our G&S Festival Shop, Information Desk, and G&S Association Member’s Desk are conveniently located in the portacabin next to the Opera House. We’re open from 11.00 am until the end of the evening interval. We look forward to seeing you—come and say hello!

Your time in Buxton will be filled with endless entertainment! With Gilbert & Sullivan activities morning, noon, and night, here’s a glimpse of a typical day at the Festival.

10.30 am

Morning talks begin in St John’s Church (across the road from the back of the Opera House).

11.00 am

The G&S Shop and Information Desk opens in the portacabin next door to the Opera House.

1.00 pm

It’s Classical Pops time in St John’s Church. Our fabulous singers will entertain for 30/40 minutes. Wonderful!

2.30 pm

Matinee productions commence in the Opera House, Pavilion Arts Centre or St John’s Church. See pages 6 and 7 for details.

7.10 pm

Saturdays only. Take your seat in the Opera House for “Singing from the Gallery”. Come and join in or simply sit and soak up the special Festival atmosphere. It’s a great way to start the evening.

7.15 pm

Make sure you’re around for our popular G&S fanfare on the steps of the Opera House, inviting you to take your seats in the theatre.

7.30 pm

Your show begins in Buxton Opera House. Enjoy!

10.00 pm

Our famous Festival Club opens next door to the Opera House in the Pavilion Gardens (entry £3). Come along and enjoy a cabaret, light supper, bar and great company. Open until midnight.

NOTE: Tickets for all the morning talks, Classical Pops recitals and matinees in St John’s Church can be bought on the door or from the Opera House Box office or website. Tickets for the Opera House and Pavilion Arts Centre must be bought from the Opera House Box Office or their website: www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk. Tel: 01298 72190.

Join the friends

Join our wonderful G&S Family and Support the Festival's Future!

Enjoy exclusive offers, and help ensure our unique and cherished Festival thrives for the next thirty years!

The support of our wonderful 'Friends' is essential to our success and longevity. Your generosity allows us to plan confidently for the future, as we rely solely on ticket sales for income and receive no public funding.

But the 'Friends' charity is more than just a fundraising entity; it is the heart and soul of the Festival. Without your amazing support, the Festival would not exist today.

Join us from just £35 a year and enjoy great benefits, including priority booking for next year's Festival.

You can join in the portacabin (next to the Opera House), online at www. gsfestivals.org/friends, or by calling 01422 323252. We hope to welcome you soon!

FRIEND

- Single Membership £35 pa

- Joint £50 pa

- Priority Draw No 3 with ticket discounts

- Emails, newsletters and advance information

- Recognition in the Festival Souvenir programme

BENEFACTOR

- Single Membership £100 pa

- Joint £150 pa

- Enjoy all the benefits of a FRIEND plus

- Priority Draw number 2 with ticket discounts

- Evening wine reception during the Festival

- Free Souvenir Programme (value £10)

- Pass for free entry into the Festival Club

FESTIVAL PARTNER

- Single Membership £350 pa

- Joint £500 pa

- Enjoy all the benefits of a BENEFACTOR plus Priority Draw number 1 with ticket discounts

- 2 Free tickets to Youth Production

LIFE MEMBER

- Single Membership £1000

- Joint £1500

- Enjoy all the benefits of a BENEFACTOR

A FESTIVAL NIGHT TO REMEMBER WITH SIMON BUTTERISS AT CHATSWORTH HOUSE

LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE

Tuesday 6 August

Coach departs from outside the Opera House at 6.15 pm

We are delighted to announce a special gala evening at one of the world’s best-loved stately homes, Chatsworth House. This memorable night will feature celebrated comic baritone Simon Butteriss performing in Chatsworth’s magnificent theatre, a rare gem designed by William Helmsley in 1896 for the 8th Duke of Devonshire.

This was at a time when the theatre was at its most fashionable, partly because of the affair of the Duke’s great friend, the Prince of Wales and the actress Lily Langtree. The Prince,

who became King Edward VII, was such a regular visitor that the press dubbed it the ‘Theatre Royal’. Your ticket includes a return coach transfer from outside Buxton Opera House, departing at 6.15 pm, followed by a drinks reception upon arrival before the concert.

Tickets including return coach transfer to Buxton, welcome wine reception and concert: £95

Book online at www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk or call the Box office on 01298 72190

DAY BY DAY FESTIVAL

PROGRAMME

Saturday 27 July

7.10 pm SINGING FROM THE GALLERY

Buxton Opera House

Come and join the singing or simply soak up the special Festival atmosphere.

2.30/7.30pm THE GONDOLIERS

The National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company Buxton Opera House

We open the 30th G&S Festival with all-time favourite, The Gondoliers. Directed by and starring Simon Butteriss, The Gondoliers is one of Sullivan's sunniest scores and makes for irresistible, joyous entertainment.

10.00 pm Festival Club Pavilion Gardens £3

Join us next door to the Opera House for late-night entertainment, bar and supper.

Sunday 28 July

10.30 am INTRODUCTION TO THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

Stephen Turnbull Palace Hotel - £8.50

Find out all about this much-loved operetta before today's performance.

1.00 pm Classical Pops

St John's Church - £10

Relax and let our fabulous singers entertain you (approximately 40 mins).

2.30/7.30 pm THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

The National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company Buxton Opera House

Enjoy all-time favourite The Pirates of Penzance, directed by and starring Simon Butteriss. This hilarious production is great for all the family, with larger-than-life characters and a plot simply brimming with laughter and all those well-known tunes.

10.00 pm Festival Club Pavilion Gardens £3

Join us next door to the Opera House for late-night entertainment, bar and supper.

Monday 29 July

10.30 am The Tiny World of Toy Theatre

Trevor Griffin

St John's Church - £8.50

Trevor Griffin helped set up the 'Tiny World of Toy Theatres' display at Pickford's House in Derby, the largest permanent exhibition of Toy Theatres in the UK. Trevor will explain how Toy Theatre originated and developed, and his talk will feature the one time when a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta appeared in its repertoire.

1.00 pm Classical Pops

St John's Church - £10

Relax and let our fabulous singers entertain you (approximately 40 mins).

2.30 pm Flanders and Swann with Donald Maxwell and Chris Milton

St John's Church - £16.50

Enjoy music, mirth and “mud” with Donald Maxwell and Chris Milton.

7.30 pm The Yeomen of the Guard

Grosvenor Light Opera Company

Buxton Opera House – Tickets from £22

The Yeomen of the Guard is regarded as the most serious of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas; in this production, set in the mid-17th century, we aim to maintain the emotional integrity of the piece while highlighting the comedy as much as possible. We are also making use of GLOC’s fantastic amateur chorus to create a lively and vibrant community within the tower. This promises to be a particularly hopeful ‘Yeomen’ at a time when we could all use a little extra joy!

10.00 pm Festival Club Pavilion Gardens £3

Tuesday 30 July

10.30 am 'Painful though the Duty Be'

St John's Church - £8.50

Chris Milton and Fergus Butler Gallie fulfil their contractual obligations. Always great fun. Don't miss it.

1.00 pm Classical Pops

St John's Church - £10

Relax and let our fabulous singers entertain you (approximately 40 mins).

2.30 pm The Three Amigos!

Bonaventura Bottone, Donald Maxwell and Richard Suart

St John's Church - £25

Come and be entertained by our three international opera stars They come together for an afternoon of music and laughter and look back on their performances in some of the most magnificent opera houses around the world.

7.30 pm The Gondoliers

The Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society Buxton Opera House – Tickets from £22

EDGAS celebrates their centenary year with an enchanting new production of The Gondoliers – take to the streets of Venice, where love, laughter, and mistaken identities abound. In this uproarious operetta, you'll follow the romantic misadventures of two handsome gondoliers, a royal mix-up, and a dash of witty humour that only G&S can provide. This sparkling performance promises an evening of entertainment that will leave you humming those famous melodies long after the final curtain call.

10.00 pm Festival Club Pavilion Gardens £3

Wednesday 31 July

Introduction to HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury

St John's Church - £8.50

Turnbull, introduces HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury in readiness for today's performances in the Opera House.

St John's Church - £10

2.30 pm The Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society Entertains St John's Church - £16.50

Members of The Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society (EDGAS), one of Scotland's leading amateur theatre companies, return with an afternoon of G&S delights.

2.30 pm and HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury

7.30 pm National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company Buxton Opera House – Tickets from £29

Two brand-new productions for the price of one! The NGSOC sets sail on the HMS Pinafore in a hilarious, brand-new production. Pompous Sir Joseph Porter arrives with plans to marry Josephine, the Captain's daughter. But she has other plans and is soon plotting to elope with lowly sailor Ralph Rackstraw. Directed by and starring Bradley Travis.

Trial by Jury is a one-act operetta about glamorous Angelina, jilted by her dastardly fiancé, Edwin. Angelina sues Edwin for breach of promise of marriage. The learned judge and all the jury members fall for her charms, so will there be a happy ending? Directed by Bruce Graham.

10.00 pm Festival Club

Thursday 1 August

10.30 am Herbert Sullivan and Sir Arthur

Elaine Richardson, President of the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society

St John's Church - £8.50

During 2023, Elaine Richardson published a book about Sir Arthur's nephew and heir, Herbert Sullivan. This talk covers the period 1868-1900 and Elaine provides a fascinating insight into their close relationship, including some previously unknown facts about Sir Arthur himself.

1.00 pm Classical Pops

St John's Church - £10

2.30 pm Princess Ida

University of York Gilbert & Sullivan Society

Pavilion Arts Centre - £16.50

Princess Ida features a hilarious storyline and sublime music performed by the University of York's Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Playing on the themes of gender and patriarchy, the 1920s setting of this topsy-turvy battle of the sexes is accompanied by the UNIFest orchestra, showcasing music considered among Sullivan's best!

7.30 pm Iolanthe

Peak Opera

Buxton Opera House – Tickets from £22

Iolanthe weaves a poignant story of fairy love and magic set against backdrops of Arcadia and The Houses of Parliament. Hilarity ensues, and the Lord Chancellor and the House of Peers soon realise they are no match for the Queen of the Fairies and a half-mortal, half-fairy Member of Parliament!

10.00 pm Festival Club

Pavilion Gardens £3

10.30 am Taking the Waters Again

Ian Bradley

St John's Church - £8.50

Friday 2 August

Ian Bradley dives into the fascinating watery world of spa cures, past and present, exploring the hidden history of spas and his own experiences of treatments with particular reference to Buxton, where it is once again possible to bathe in the natural thermal waters. Is the recent redevelopment of the Crescent paving the way for the revival of Britain's spa towns?

1.00 pm Classical Pops

St John's Church - £10

2.30 pm Ruddigore

University of Birmingham Gilbert & Sullivan Society

Pavilion Arts Centre - £16.50

Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd, the current baronet of Ruddigore, is cursed to commit one crime or more per day or perish in inconceivable agony. Rose Maybud and Ruthven are romantically interested in each other, but the curse prevents them from being together. Will Rose be able to marry the man of her dreams, or will Ruthven have to live the rest of his life a solitary criminal? All will soon be revealed…

2.30 pm and The Sorcerer

7.30 pm Charles Court Opera.

Buxton Opera House – Tickets from £29

This highly anticipated production promises to be a magical occasion, featuring some of CCO's finest performers, including Richard Suart in the title role. Based on Gilbert's story An Elixir of Love, The Sorcerer tells the tale of Alexis, a man obsessed with the idea that all should fall in love. He enlists a 'Family Sorcerer' of J.W. Wells & Co. in London to administer a love potion to the entire village - and soon mayhem ensues…

10.00 pm Festival Club

Pavilion Gardens £3

Saturday 3 August

10 am to Memorabilia Fair

4.00 pm Octagon Foyer (free entrance)

The Memorabilia Fair is a great place to meet collectors and browse all things G&S, from books, scores, china, old recordings and much more. To exhibit, please email sarah@gsfestivals.org

10.30 am Ian Bradley

A Matter of Life and Death

St John's Church Tickets

£8.50

Based on his new and original research for a forthcoming book, lan Bradley reveals the contrasting personalities and beliefs of Gilbert and Sullivan and explores how Sullivan's vivacious and sunny disposition and love of life ultimately triumphed over Gilbert's cynicism and rather macabre obsession with death.

1.00 pm Classical Pops

St John's Church - £10

Relax and let our fabulous singers entertain you (approximately 40 mins).

2.30 pm NEW – The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan

Principals from the National G&S Opera Company

Buxton Opera House – Tickets from £29

This fabulous concert was a sell-out in 2023. Celebrated comic baritone Simon Butteriss has devised a new programme of the best songs from the operas accompanied by the National Festival Orchestra. Enjoy a whirlwind tour of the immortal Savoy Operas, set in context by fascinating, historical, gossipy anecdotes that will effortlessly transport you back to the glitter and glamour of the 19th-century Savoy Theatre. Highly recommended!

7.30 pm The Pirates of Penzance

National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company

Buxton Opera House – Tickets from £29

Here is another opportunity to see this outstanding productions performed by the very best.

10.00 pm Festival Club

Pavilion Gardens

£3

Festival

Church Service

St John's Church

Sunday 4 August

Featuring some of Sullivan's sacred music, the service is one of the Festival's highlights. This year we intend to include one of Sullivan's longer anthems together with other works and hymns to be sung by St John's choir, augmented by other G&S singers who must be available to attend necessary rehearsals at St John's. These rehearsals are scheduled for Friday 2 August (6.15-7.25 pm) and Sunday, 4 August (9.45 – 10.30 am) Please email sarah@gsfestivals.org if you would like to join.

12.30 pm Festival Luncheon

Lee Wood Hotel - £55

Join us for a fabulous luncheon at our favourite venue, which will include some fantastic entertainment, too. There will be time to get to the theatre for the matinee performance.

2.30 pm The Pirates of Penzance

National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company

Buxton Opera House – Tickets from £29

Join our star-studded cast for a hilarious afternoon's entertainment as the NGSOC sail back into Buxton with their fantastic production of The Pirates of Penzance.

7.30 pm HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury

National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company

Buxton Opera House – Tickets from £29

Here is another opportunity to see two outstanding productions from the acclaimed National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company.

Join us next door to the Opera House for late-night

Monday 5 August

10.30 am Herbert Sullivan and the Gilberts

Elaine Richardson

St John's Church – £8.50

In part two of her talk on Sir Arthur's nephew and heir, Herbert Sullivan, Elaine Richardson explores Herbert's surprising relationship with his uncle's theatrical partner, W. S. Gilbert and his wife, Lady Gilbert.

1.00 pm Classical Pops

St John's Church - £10

2.30 pm The Pirates of Penzance

Harrogate G&S Society

Pavilion Arts Centre - £16.50

Probably running second to The Mikado as the world's favourite G&S, The Pirates of Penzance continues to delight. Enjoy the travails of the father with even more daughters than you get in a Jane Austen novel, a police force regretting its career choice, and the most incompetent pirates that ever went "Arrrr!".

7.30 pm The Grand Duke

Savoy Company, USA

Buxton Opera House – tickets from £22

Savoy Company travelled all the way from Philadelphia for our first Festival in 1994, so it is only fitting that they join us for our thirtieth celebrations.

The Grand Duke, the final collaboration between Gilbert and Sullivan, is set in the fictional German state of Pfennig

Halbpfennig. An acting company secretly plots to overthrow their tyrannical Grand Duke, but it all goes awry when Ludwig lets slip details of the plot to the Grand Duke's detective. Here is a unique opportunity to see this rarely-performed gem. Don't miss it!

10.00 pm Festival Club Pavilion Gardens £3

Join us next door to the Opera House for late-night entertainment, bar and supper.

Tuesday 6 August

10.30 am The History of the Trumpet

Anthony Thompson

St John's Church - £8.50

Join National Festival Orchestra member Anthony Thompson for a fascinating talk about his instrument – the trumpet.

1.00 pm Classical Pops

St John's Church - £10

Relax and let our fabulous singers entertain you (approximately 40 mins).

2.30 pm Mr Jericho

The Lyra Players

St John's Church - £16.50

This is a rare opportunity to see the Savoy curtain-raiser Mr Jericho, written by Harry Greenbank with music by Sullivan protégé Ernest Ford. First produced as a companion piece to Haddon Hall in 1893, this work for five singers is one of very few original curtain raisers whose score and libretti are still available, making it a fascinating glimpse into a theatrical format all but forgotten today. The impoverished Earl of Margate and his son live in disguise, with the latter working as an omnibus driver, until an 'accident with the 'bus' leads to a series of chance meetings that could change their fortunes forever.

7.30 pm Patience

Bus Pass Opera

Buxton Opera House – Tickets from £22

Bus Pass Opera was established exclusively for performers in their 60s and beyond and is today one of the favourite groups in the festivals.

This lively and humorous take on the 1880s Aesthetic movement features two contrasting poets: the 'Fleshly Poet' Bunthorne and the 'Idyllic Poet' Grosvenor. Both vie for the love of Patience, a charming milkmaid. Languid poets, drooping, sighing maidens and manly dragoons make for hilarious entertainment.

10.00 pm Festival Club Pavilion Gardens £3

Wednesday 7 August

10.30 am Introduction to The Gondoliers

Stephen Turnbull

St John's Church - £8.50

We travel to Italy today as Stephen Turnbull tells us everything we need to know about The Gondoliers in time for the performances later today.

1.00 pm Classical Pops

St John's Church - £10

Relax and let our fabulous singers entertain you (approximately 40 mins).

2.30 pm and The Gondoliers

7.30 pm

National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company

Buxton Opera House – Tickets from £29

Here is another opportunity to see our must-see show of the season. Directed by and starring Simon Butteriss, The Gondoliers features one of Sullivan’s sunniest scores, making for irresistible, joyous entertainment.

The Gondoliers is a love story and a tale of mistaken identity. Marco and Guiseppe have just married but are told that one of them is the heir to the throne of Barataria. But which one? To complicate matters, they are informed that the heir was married to Casilda as an infant. She has now arrived in Venice to claim her husband. Enjoy wonderful melodies and our favourite dance, The Cachucha.

10.30 am Staging Ivanhoe

David Wilmore

Thursday 8 August

St John's Church - £8.50

Today's talk is an illustrated look at the original staging of Sullivan's grand opera Ivanhoe, which ran for 155 consecutive performances (a record for any Opera) and which opened in The Royal English Opera House (now The Palace Theatre) in 1891

1.00 pm Classical Pops

St John's Church - £10

2.30 pm Princess Ida

Oxford University Gilbert and Sullivan Society

Pavilion Arts Centre - £16.50

Hilarion was betrothed in infancy to the beautiful, headstrong Princess Ida, and means to claim her hand. The only problem? Ida has forsaken male company and founded a women's university, promising death for any intruding man. With the lives of her family on the line, Ida must choose – traditional marriage or dreams of academia?

7.30 pm The Mikado

SavoyNet Performing Group

Buxton Opera House – Tickets from £22

Robert Ray, from Melbourne, Australia, director of the SavoyNet Performing Group's production of The Mikado writes:

"When Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria staged a traditional version of the opera, I took a Japanese friend to see it. At the end, I asked him the inevitable question: what he thought of it. His response was: "Well, it wasn't very Japanese!". Exactly what we have always believed. It was written by Englishmen, initially for an English audience with an English cast, and it is really about English politics and society. This Englishness is what I hope to bring out in this new production where we have an international cast who will have great fun impersonating English types. While not setting it in Japan as Gilbert did, this will be utterly faithful to the original words and the music."

10.00 pm Festival Club

Pavilion Gardens £3

Join us next door to the Opera House for late-night entertainment, bar and supper.

Friday 9 August

10.30 am Travelling with Gilbert & Sullivan

Adrian Berg

St John's Church - £8.50

In this presentation, we travel with Gilbert and Sullivan, starting with Gilbert's early childhood travels in Italy and France. Let's pack a bag and visit the surprising places where their plays were most welcome and revered.

1.00 pm Classical Pops

St John's Church - £10

Relax and let our fabulous singers entertain you (approximately 40 mins).

2.30 pm The Pirates of Penzance

National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company

Buxton Opera House – Tickets from £29

Our final performance of The Pirates of Penzance in Buxton this year. Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of glorious entertainment with the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company.

5.00 pm Awards Ceremony 30th International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival Pavilion Arts Centre

Come along and see who will be the Festival Champions in 2024.

7.30 pm NEW – The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan

Principals of the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company

Buxton Opera House – Tickets from £29

This fabulous concert was a sell-out last year. Celebrated comic baritone Simon Butteriss has devised a new programme of the best songs from the operas accompanied by the National Festival Orchestra. Enjoy a whirlwind tour of the immortal Savoy Operas, set in context by fascinating, historical, gossipy anecdotes that will effortlessly transport you back to the glitter and glamour of the 19th-century Savoy Theatre. Highly recommended!

10.00 pm Festival Club Pavilion Gardens £3

Saturday 10 August

10.30 am In Conversation with Murray Hipkin

St John's Church

Tickets £8.50

Murray Hipkin is the conductor of the National Festival Orchestra. Come and hear about his fascinating career in the world of music.

1.00 pm Classical Pops

St John's Church - £10

Relax and let our fabulous singers entertain you (approximately 40 mins).

2.30 pm The Sorcerer

Youth Production

Pavilion Arts Centre - £16.50

Our Youth Production is always one of our most popular shows and we love it! Enjoy a magical production of The Sorcerer with our wonderful young singers.

2.30 pm HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury

National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company

Buxton Opera House – Tickets from £29

Enjoy the final performances of our fantastic double bill.

7.30 pm The Gondoliers

National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company

Buxton Opera House – Tickets from £29

We close this year's Festival with a fabulous production of The Gondoliers. Come and 'Dance a Cachucha', and we'll raise the roof as we say goodbye until next year!

Awards Ceremony

Sponsored by

Theatrical Adventures

Your favourite musical cruise company!

Friday 9 August at 5 pm. Pavilion Arts Centre

AMATEUR COMPETITORS (OPERA HOUSE PERFORMANCES)

Awards

The Ian G Smith Trophy: Prize £1,000

Runner-up: Prize £500

Grosvenor Light Opera Company (The Yeomen of the Guard)

Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society (The Gondoliers)

Peak Opera (Iolanthe)

Savoy Company (The Grand Duke)

Bus Pass Opera (Patience)

The SavoyNet Performing Group (The Mikado)

UNIFEST COMPETITORS (PAVILION ARTS CENTRE PERFORMANCES)

Awards

The Gertrude Marsh-Looi Unifest Champions Award: Prize £500

Runner-up: Prize £200

University of York Gilbert and Sullivan Society (Princess Ida)

University of Birmingham Gilbert and Sullivan Society (Ruddigore)

Oxford University Gilbert and Sullivan Society (Princess Ida)

Festival Youth Production (The Sorcerer) Special Adjudicator Awards.

Our thanks to Festival Adjudicator Stephen Turnbull

25 MARCH – 1 APRIL, 2025

From £1600 Per Person

Our fabulous new cruise begins and ends in Cologne, one of Germany’s oldest cities, known for its majestic cathedral, vibrant cultural scene and picturesque riverside promenades.

The journey down the Rhine River is a voyage through time, revealing beautiful medieval castles, vineyard-clad hills and quaint villages. Each bend in the river brings a new vista and a new story to discover.

We will enjoy a fantastic selection of tours, including wine tastings, the unique Siegfried’s Mechanical Museum and awe-inspiring cathedrals.

This outstanding cruise will include stops in Rudesheim, Wiesbaden, Speyer, Strasbourg, Basel, Worms and Mainz.

Our wonderful, professional entertainers will perform every evening. And, of course, guests will also have an opportunity to sing and join our TA choir rehearsals along the way.

For more information please visit www.theatricaladventures.com email oliver@theatricaladventures.com or call 01422 323 252

G&S Festival Shop

Make sure you visit our shop next door to the Opera House.

We have some great new products designed exclusively for the Festival. Choose from mugs, bags, t-shirts and much more.

And don’t forget, we have all the DVDs from all the shows performed at the Festival since 1998!

This year’s performances will be available to buy on DVD in PAL, NTSC and Blu-Ray formats.

OPENING HOURS

11.00 am to the end of the evening interval.

Buy your copy outside the Opera House or from the G&S shop. ALL THE SHOWS AND MORE FOR JUST £10.00!

SOUVENIR PROGRAMME

The Souvenir Programme is fantastic value at just £10. With information about all the shows in the Opera House and the Pavilion Arts Centre, you’ve got everything you need to know about the Festival in one place. And it’s a great souvenir to take home, too!

We sail beautiful rivers with fascinating tours. We choose outstanding ships and we promise exceptional value for money.

And when it comes to filling our social programme, we have a significant advantage over our competitors. The musical talent is hand-picked from the internationally renowned National G&S Opera Company and our network of opera stars.

Every night is filled with fantastic entertainment. Our outstanding onboard soloists and musical director ensure a bespoke programme of musical magic. Solo passengers never need to feel alonethere is always someone to talk to and our directors accompany every cruise.

There are plenty of opportunities for passengers to get involved as well.

Throughout the cruise, guests can rehearse a light opera or concert for a performance along the way.

Theatrical Adventures offer a week-long party where the fun never ends, and our customers return year after year, cruise after cruise.

Join us on the next one and find out why.

“I never had so much fun in my life. This was my fourth cruise with TA and I intend to spend every penny of my chrildren’s inheritance on more of them in future!”

www.theatricaladventures.com Call 01422 323 252 for brochure 2023/24

FROM £1625 PER PERSON 17-22 MAY 2025

Departing from Paris, this journey through Normandy features stops at Giverny, Honfleur, and Rouen. Explore Monet’s stunning gardens, the charming port of Honfleur, and the historic streets of Rouen.

And every night, you will enjoy fantastic entertainment with our fabulous opera singers and string quartet.

Highlights include guided tours, optional excursions to WWII sites, and a panoramic tour of Paris. Experience the captivating landscapes and rich cultural heritage of one of Europe’s most beautiful rivers.

For more information go to www.theatricaladventures.com call 01422 323252 or email oliver@theatricaladventures.com

5 - 7 September 2024

Enjoy a three-night break at the four-star Abbey Hotel in Malvern and see the fabulous National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company perform at Malvern Theatre from 5-7 September 2024. The package includes the best seats for four productions: HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury, The Pirates of Penzance, and The Gondoliers. You’ll also visit Coddington Vineyard for a tour and wine tasting, explore Elgar’s former home, and have free time in the charming town of Ledbury.

Itinerary:

5 September: Check-in from 3 pm, pre-theatre dinner at 5:30 pm, and evening performance of HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury

6 September: Breakfast, vineyard tour, pre-theatre dinner, and evening performance of The Pirates of Penzance.

7 September: Breakfast, visit Elgar’s birthplace, free time in Ledbury, pre-theatre dinner, and evening performance of The Gondoliers.

8 September: Breakfast and checkout by 11 am.

Costs:

PP double/twin room: £790

Double room for single occupancy: £904

Includes: Three theatre tickets, accommodation, pre-theatre dinners with wine, and tours.

For more information or to book online, go to www.theatricaladventures.com or call 01422 323252 email sarah@gsfestivals.org

3-9 OCTOBER 2025 For more information go to www.theatricaladventures.com call 01422 323252 or email oliver@theatricaladventures.com

Highlights include a visit to Sirmione on Lake Garda, exploring Verona’s iconic sites, and discovering Padua’s medieval charm. Cruise through the Venetian lagoon, visiting Mazzorbo, Burano, and optionally Murano, renowned for its glassmaking.

We conclude with a guided tour of Venice, featuring St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. This river cruise offers an immersive blend of Italian culture, history, and natural beauty. And of course, our wonderful opera singers will entertain you every evening.

We sail extraordinary rivers with fascinating tours. We choose outstanding ships and we promise exceptional value for money.

When it comes to filling our social programme, we have a significant advantage over our competitors. We are the same people that run the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival and National G&S Opera Company. The musical talent we employ on our cruises is hand- picked from our network of talented opera stars. Your onboard musical director ensures a bespoke programme of musical magic.