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Programme for the 2026–27 (95th) Season Monday 5th October 2026 on Zoom at 7.30 pm "And have I journeyed” “Journey to the Savoy” — Conductor John Andrews gives a personal account of his journey from a very different musical background through his involvement in the Sullivan recordings to his appreciation of the Savoy operas. Sunday 1st November 2026 at 2.30 pm “Of ballads, songs and snatches” Celebrity concert by our Vice-President John Savournin (baritone). Admission: members £5, visitors £7 The Sheila Taylor meeting. Tuesday 1st December 2026 on Zoom at 7.30 pm “For the company possess all the necessary dresses” Shelagh Fawcett talks about her time as wardrobe mistress in the D‘Oyly Carte Opera Company from 1976 to 1981. Tuesday 12th January 2027 on Zoom at 7.30 pm “The woman of the wisest wit” Roberta Morrell shares her wisdom on W.S. Gilbert — his talent as a dramatist from her perspective as a performer and director. Saturday 13th February 2027 on Zoom at 11.00 am “Oh, the man who can rule a theatrical crew” Eminent Australian opera director Stuart Maunder reflects on The challenges and joys of producing Gilbert & Sullivan in the 21st Century — a view from the Antipodes. Sunday 7th March 2027 at 2.30 pm “Rend the air with songs above” Friends from Rochdale Phoenix Opera Society entertain us with a selection of songs from the operas — including items from their upcoming production of The Pirates of Penzance and Trial by Jury . Sunday 4th April 2027 at 2.30 pm “Must have a beginning, you know” An illustrated presentation by David Walton on The early lives of Gilbert and Sullivan. The Norman Beckett meeting. Tuesday 11th May 2027 on Zoom at 7.30 pm “And now, my Lords, to the business of the day” Annual General Meeting. Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd May 2027 Gilbert & Sullivan Societies‘ Convention at the Pinewood Hotel, Wilmslow — click here for further details

Upcoming Events CLICK HERE FOR OTHER EVENTS Monday 5th October 2026 on Zoom at 7.30 pm "And have I journeyed” “Journey to the Savoy” — Conductor John Andrews gives a personal account of his journey from a very different musical background through his involvement in the Sullivan recordings to his appreciation of the Savoy operas. Sunday 1st November 2026 at 2.30 pm “Of ballads, songs and snatches” Celebrity concert by our Vice-President John Savournin (baritone). Admission: members £5, visitors £7 The Sheila Taylor meeting. Tuesday 1st December 2026 on Zoom at 7.30 pm “For the company possess all the necessary dresses” Shelagh Fawcett talks about her time as wardrobe mistress in the D‘Oyly Carte Opera Company from 1976 to 1981. Tuesday 12th January 2027 on Zoom at 7.30 pm “The woman of the wisest wit” Roberta Morrell shares her wisdom on W.S. Gilbert — his talent as a dramatist from her perspective as a performer and director. Saturday 13th February 2027 on Zoom at 11.00 am “Oh, the man who can rule a theatrical crew” Eminent Australian opera director Stuart Maunder reflects on The challenges and joys of producing Gilbert & Sullivan in the 21st Century — a view from the Antipodes. Sunday 7th March 2027 at 2.30 pm “Rend the air with songs above” Friends from Rochdale Phoenix Opera Society entertain us with a selection of songs from the operas — including items from their upcoming production of The Pirates of Penzance and Trial by Jury . Sunday 4th April 2027 at 2.30 pm “Must have a beginning, you know” An illustrated presentation by David Walton on The early lives of Gilbert and Sullivan . The Norman Beckett meeting. Tuesday 11th May 2027 on Zoom at 7.30 pm “And now, my Lords, to the business of the day” Annual General Meeting. Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd May 2027 Gilbert & Sullivan Societies‘ Convention at the Pinewood Hotel, Wilmslow. Click here for further details

The Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Manchester, is an appreciation society of the G&S operas. We hold a variety of events, including talks, concerts and study evenings. Our meetings are held monthly from May to October: some via Zoom and others live in central Manchester. The Manchester Gilbert & Sullivan Society We are not a performing society, but exist to help anyone who wants to increase their knowledge of the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan, and the lives of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. The aims of the society are to encourage people of all ages to enjoy and develop their knowledge of the world of Gilbert and Sullivan, and to help maintain the integrity of the operas. About Our history & commitment Future Events See what's happening Join Us Support us “To get from ‘p rotoplasmal primordial atomic globule’ (as Gilbert and Sullivan put it) to sentient upright modern human has required you to mutate new traits over and over in a precisely timely manner for an exceedingly long while." Bill Bryson – A Short History of Nearly Everything (2003)

Useful Links British Newspaper Archive – has a good search function and contains lots of information about G&S, the operas, performers, etc. Christopher Browne's Gilbert and Sullivan Online Catalogue – the website for Gilbert and Sullivan music and memorabilia. Many different items are for sale, including books, libretti, sheet music, postcards, posters and recordings. The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive – was established in September 1993. It includes a variety of G&S related items, including clip art, librettos, plot summaries, pictures of the original G&S stars, song scores, midi and mpeg audio files, and newsletter articles. New items are added regularly. Gilbert and Sullivan Discography – Marc Shepherd's excellent discography includes details of recordings of G&S, including 78s, vinyl records, CDs and videos. Gilbert and Sullivan Festivals – the home site for the International G&S Festival. The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Sussex – the website contains The D'Oyly Carte Interviews where some former D'Oyly Carte members talk about their time with the Company. Grim's Dyke Hotel – the website for Grim's Dyke Hotel, former home of W.S. Gilbert. gsopera.tv – a streaming service which features the very best of The National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company and many other leading professional and amateur companies from around the world. Savoynet – an unmoderated electronic mailing list dedicated to discussion of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, the operas they wrote, British culture and musical theatre of their time, and related matters. Sir Arthur Sullivan Society – the website for the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society. The W.S. Gilbert Society – the website for The W.S. Gilbert Society.

2017 Convention Frid ay 21 April 2017 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm Celebration Dinner (4 course). Dress: to be decided. This will mark Manchester Society's 85th Anniversary as well as being the opening of the Convention. Frances McCafferty (contralto) will delight us afterwards with a short concert accompanied at the piano by David Wheeler. The cash bar in the Regis Suite will be open until midnight. Sat ur day 22 April 2017 9.30 – 10.00 am Assemble 10.00 am Welcome by Manchester Society Chairman, David Walton. 10.15 am Lecture: Theatre design in Gilbert's Day by David Wilmore. 11 .15 am Coffee 11.45 am Illustrated Lecture on Sullivan’s music by Professor Derek B. Scott. 12.45 pm Lunch : 3 course, hot. Cash bar open beforehand. 2 .30 pm David Walton will interview Frances McCafferty. Questions welcomed at the end. 3.15 to 3. 45 pm Interval tea or coffee 3.45 to 4.45 approx. John Balls and Arthur Barrett from Norwich G&S Society will present a tribute to Thomas Round. 4.45 to 6.30 pm Free time 6.30 pm Hot Buffet Tea 8.00 pm P rofessional Celebrity Concert. Celebrities to be announced. 10. 00 pm Light “supper” of Danish pastries, scones, tea and coffee. The cash bar in the Regis Suite will be open until midnight. Sunday 23 April 2017 10.0 0 am An Act of Worship using some of Sullivan’s sacred music, led by David Walton. 11 .00 am approx. Coffee 11.30 am Concert by postgraduate singers from the Royal Northern College of Music. 1.00 pm Sunday L unch (3 course) 2.30 to 3.30 pm Semi-staged concert by members of Sale Gilbert and Sullivan Society. 3.30 p m Formal closure of Convention, then disperse (“most reluctantly”).

Ruddigore Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index

The Mikado Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index

Gallery The images in this gallery are low definition files. High definition files are available on request to treasurer@manchestergands.org.uk , and can be reproduced provided that they are credited with "Manchester Gilbert & Sullivan Archives". Click on the appropriate button to see the photo gallery. Iolanthe The Mikado HMS Pinafore Patience The Pirates of Penzance Ages Ago Haddon Hall Rutland Barrington Princess Ida Ruddigore The Sorcerer Trial by Jury Miscellaneous The Yeomen of the Guard

Programme for the 2024–25 (93rd) Season Sunday 6th October 2024 at 2.30 pm "I have a pretty turn for anecdote" Our Vice-President David Steadman will be in conversation with David Walton . He has promised some musical surprises. It is always entertaining and amusing when these two chat together. The Sheila Taylor meeting. Sunday 3rd November 2024 at 2.30 pm "The air is charged with amatory numbers" A concert by Sophie Clarke, mezzo-soprano, and James Connolly, baritone, both postgraduate students at the RNCM. Sophie won the award offered by The G&S Society. Accompanied on the piano by David Wheeler. The Harold Sumner meeting. Admission: members £5, visitors £7. Tuesday 3rd December 2024 on Zoom at 7.30 pm "Tell us, tell us all about it" James Hurley, revival director of Opera North's Ruddigore , will enlighten us on this production. The Norman Beckett meeting. Tuesday 14th January 2025 on Zoom at 7.30 pm "Sprites of earth and air" Our Vice-President Martin Lamb will intrigue us with an illustrated talk on ‘Gilbert and Sullivan and the supernatural in Victorian Art‘. Tuesday 11th February 2025 on Zoom at 7.30 pm "All is prepared" John Broad and Rosalind Griffiths share stories of their performing careers from their time in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and beyond. Sunday 23rd February 2025 at 2.30 pm "Oh, joy unbounded!" Our friends from Sale G&S Society will perform Trial by Jury in celebration of its 150th anniversary, and David Walton will share some thoughts about this gem of an opera. Sunday 30th March 2025 at 2.30 pm "And I am right, And you are right. And everything is quite correct!" What are our top three G&S operas? John Coates will encourage us to share our favourites in the G&S canon. Tuesday 13th May 2025 at 7.30 pm "Strange the views some people hold!" Annual General Meeting. POSTPONED TO 28TH JANUARY 2025 DUE TO A TECHNICAL PROBLEM.

David's Concert The video below is a recording of the concert arranged by David Goulden, with his friends from Crosby G&S Society, and Anya Maniyar, one of David’s pupils. It was recorded at Cross Street Chapel, Cross Street, Manchester, on Sunday 9th November 2025.

Programme for the 2021–22 (90th) Season Sunday 3rd October 2021 at 2.30 pm “Welcome to our hearts again” An interview with our Vice President and G&S maestro, David Steadman, who picks out gems from his fund of stories and may entertain us at the piano. The She ila Taylor meeting. Sunday 7th November 2021 at 2.30 pm “let the air with joy be laden” A conc ert by Matthew Kellett (baritone) accompanied by David Eaton. The Harold Sumner meeting. Admission: members £5, visitors £7. Tuesday 7th December 2021 on Zoom at 7.30 pm “There can be no harm in revelling in the past” Behind the scenes with Michael Heyland, Director of Productions, D‘Oyly Carte Opera Company 1969 to 1978. Tuesday 11th January 2022 on Zoom at 7.30 pm “tell us all about it” Presentation by Jeff Clarke, artistic Director of Opera della Luna, on The New D‘Oyly Carte touring Company of the 1920s. Tuesday 1st February 2022 on Zoom at 7.30 pm “Indeed I am telling the truth” Peggy Ann Jones and Abby Hadfield reminisce about their days in the D‘Oyly Carte in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Sunday 6th March 2022 at 2.30 pm “and now I look more closely at it” ‘The Gondoliers’ – Paul Taylor presents another of his stimulating illustrated talks on the operas and their background story. Th e Norman Beckett meeting. Sunday 3rd April 2022 at 2.30 pm “With choral joy delight the breeze” A concert by Peter Crichton and some friends of his from Crosby G&S Society. Postponed until 11th September 2022. Tuesday 10th May 2022 on Zoom at 7.30 pm “let us grasp the situation” Annual General Meeting plus entertainment. A whole weekend of G&S “can‘t keep it up all day long?” Friday even ing 13th May 2022 to Sunday lunch 15th May. Convention: concerts, talks, friendship and fun at the Alma Lodge Hotel, 149 Buxton Road, Stockport, SK2 6EL.

Miscellaneous Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index