G&S evening with Opera South East

Opera South East present a “rollicking romp” through the topsy-turvy world of Gilbert & Sullivan, featuring excerpts from across the range of the Savoy Operas they created, costumed and semi-staged. There will be performances in Winchelsea, Battle and Bexhill.

“These operas created fanciful worlds where each absurdity is taken to its logical conclusion —fairies rub elbows with British Lords, flirting is a capital offence, gondoliers ascend to the monarchy, and pirates emerge as noblemen who have gone astray,” the company says.

“Sullivan composed the music, contributing memorable melodies that could convey both humour and pathos.

“Gilbert & Sullivan’s operas have enjoyed broad and enduring international success and are still performed frequently throughout the English-speaking world. They introduced innovations in content and form that directly influenced the development of musical theatre through the 20th century.

Bass David Woloszko.

“The operas have also influenced political discourse, literature, film and television and have been widely parodied and pastiched by humorists.

The conductor is Kenneth Roberts and the evening features special guests Gary Marriott (tenor) and David Woloszko (bass). The director is Karen McInally.

Performances, all starting at 7pm, are as follows:

Friday 20 September at St Thomas the Martyr, Monks’ Walk, Winchelsea TN36 4AB
Saturday 21^st September at Emmanuel Centre, Harrier Lane, Battle TN33 0FL
Sunday 22^nd September at The Manor Barn, 4 De La Warr Rd, Bexhill-on-Sea TN40 2JA.

Tenor Gary Marriott.

Tickets are £12 on the door or £10 in advance from:

Winchelsea Farm Kitchen, High Street, Winchelsea TN36 4EA  (01797 226287)
Emmanuel Centre, Harrier Lane, Battle, TN33 0FL ( 01424 777029)
Second Spin, 14 Sackville Road, Bexhill TN39 3JL  (01424 210894).
Gillian (01424 425028)

Opera South East is also preparing to perform one of G&S’s most popular works, The Mikado, at White Rock Theatre in Hastings on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 April 2020.

This year, on  Saturday 12 October in Battle, it will present a recital entitled Invitation to the Dance, and on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November, in Winchelsea and Bexhill respectively, Menotti’s opera Amahl and the Night Visitors.

All images OSE.

Also in: Music & Sound