Yeomen of the Guard Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index

Trial by Jury Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index

Programme for the 2013–14 (82nd) Season Sunday 13th Octo ber 2013 at 2.30 p m “rend with songs the air above” Professional celebrity concert by John Savournin (baritone) accompanied at the piano by David Eaton. Many of us have enjoyed John‘s fine voice and acting skills at Buxton. [Professional engagements permitting.] Admis sion: members £5, visitors £7. The Harold Sumner meeting. Tuesday 5th November 2013 at 7.15 pm “The woman of the wisest wit” Sandra Dugdale, soprano, producer and lecturer, will entertain and enlighten us with an illustrated talk on producing G&S. The Sheila Taylor meeting. Tuesday 3rd December 2013 at 7.15 pm “everything is interesting, tell us, tell us all about it” Derek Scott, Professor of Music at Leeds University, will entertain us about ‘humorous devices in G&S ’ from his knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, G&S. A v ery entertaining speaker. The Norman Beckett meeting. Tuesday 7th January 2014 at 7.15 pm “away we go to an island fair” Composite Desert Island Discs by some of our members. Enjoy their choices of music. Tuesday 4th February 2014 at 7.15 pm “seated one day at the keyboard” Piano and organ recital of Sullivan music by some of our members and friends. Tuesday 4th March 2014 at 7.15 pm “studied gravely and conscientiously” Paul Taylor will present another of his studies of an opera, Ruddigore , illustrated in ‘many various ways’. Sunday 13th April 2014 at 2.30 pm David Ka y, one of our members, is an experienced performer and producer with The Three Towns Operatic Society. He will sing a selection of G&S, and talk about performing and producing. Tuesday 6th May 2014 at 7.15 pm “to this attend without undue delay” Annual General Meeting plus entertainment. Review Review

Programme for the 2017–18 (86th) Season Tuesday 3rd Octo ber 2017 at 7.15 pm “We recall without repining” Paul Kampen and Howard Rogerson will reminisce about their days in the D‘Oyly Carte orchestra and other G&S, with some live music including from a period horn. Tuesday 7th November 2017 at 7.15 pm “Rend with songs the air above” Kay Jordan (soprano) will entertain us with talk and song, accompanied by Tim Walker. The Shei la Taylor meeting. Admission: members £5, visitors £7. Tuesday 5th December 2017 at 7.15 pm “tell us all about it” David Cookson will delight us with talk and music from his wide experience of G&S as an MD, repetiteur, accompanist and founder of “Musical Solutions”. Tuesday 9th January 2018 at 7.15 pm “Life‘s a Pudding full of Plums” As are the Operettas! Name your favourite piece of music or dialogue, then we will listen, enthuse and inform together, led by John Coates. The Harold Sumner meeting. Sunday 4th February 2018 at 2.30 pm “They sing s o nicely” Three Towns Operatic Society, led by our member David Kay, will entertain us in concert. Tuesday 6th March 2018 at 7.15 pm “I can teach you with a quip, if I‘ve a mind” Martin Yates will fascinate us with his study of the music of Patience and Utopia . The Norman Beckett meeting. Admiss ion: members £5 , visitors £7. Tuesday 3rd April 2018 at 7.15 pm “everything is interesting” Details to be finalized. Tuesday 8th May 2018 at 7.15 pm “In punctual and business-like fashion” Annual General Meeting plus entertainment.

2027 Convention THE GILBERT & SULLIVAN SOCIETIES‘ CONVENTION at Pinewood Hotel, Wilmslow, SK9 3LF Friday 21 to Sunday 23 May 2027 The Manchester Gilbert & Sullivan Society is delighted to invite delegates from The Gilbert and Sullivan Society and their Affiliated Societies and Organisations to the 24th Gilbert and Sullivan Societies’ Convention. We have worked closely with The Gilbert and Sullivan Society, and are grateful for their help and generous support. The Convention will take place at the Pinewood Hotel in Wilmslow (pictured below). The hotel has a good number of accessible rooms, a lift, landscaped gardens, on-site free parking, and is approximately 2 miles (6-minute taxi ride) from Wilmslow Railway Station, which is located on the West Coast Main Line. The average journey time from London Euston to Wilmslow by train is 2 hours 19 minutes, although on the fastest services it can take just 1 hour 52 minutes. For further information about the hotel: https://pinewood-hotel.co.uk https://aghotels.co.uk/pinewood-hotel/ what3words location: what3words.com/dust.index.barn The cost for the weekend is £395 (single occupancy), £375 (double occupancy) and £230 (non residential). If you wish to attend for a portion of the weekend, then please ask Derrick Lack at dalack@argonet.co.uk for a quotation. Booking forms are available here: We encourage you to complete and return your booking form as soon as possible to ensure a place and to avoid disappointment. The programme is guaranteed to delight, plus there is the opportunity to meet and mix with fellow enthusiasts. Convention highlights include: Matthew Kellett Gala Concert by G&S Society sponsored students Guest speakers including James Hendry , David Mackie and Jim Stebbings . A celebration of the 150th Anniversary of The Sorcerer , including an illustrated history, concert performance by Sale G&S Society , and Songs of Praise from Ploverleigh Church. ‘Pirate’ recordings of the D‘Oyly Carte Opera Company. A G&S Treasurer Hunt. Click here for a copy of the Booking Form Click here for an Interactive Booking Form Click here to see the full programme Home Page

About Us The Manchester Gilbert and Sullivan Society , which was founded in 1932, provides an interesting and entertaining programme of events, once a month between October and May. Some of the meetings are held at the Cross Street Chapel , Cross Street, Manchester, usually on Sundays, and other meetings are held via Zoom, usually on Tuesdays. Many members of the society have close links with other related societies, including performing societies, and some members have professional links in the G&S world. The society aims to stimulate interest and develop knowledge of the Savoy operas and their authors; it is not a performing society, but enjoys friendly relations with local amateur societies. Our membership is made up of passionate individuals who share a love for these timeless operas. We invite you to join us in celebrating the music, characters and stories that have delighted audiences for over a century. The society is affiliated to The Gilbert and Sullivan Society which meets in London. It was founded in 1924 and was the first of some twenty affiliated societies formed throughout the world. The annual subscription to The Manchester Gilbert and Sullivan Society is £22, or £11 for anyone under the age of 18 or receiving full-time education. The year starts on 8th April. Admission to most meetings is free of charge. For one or two meetings a year, when professional singers/performers are involved, there is usually an admission charge of £5 for members, and £7 for visitors. We have a committee of approximately eight members who plan the monthly programmes and make other decisions about the Society.

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

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

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

2022 (22nd) Convention Frid ay 13 M ay 2022 7.00 pm Celebration Dinner (4 course). Dress; dinner jacket or lounge suit. This will mark Manchester Society's 90th Anniversary as well as being the opening of the Convention. Matthew Siveter (baritone) will delight us afterwards with a short concert accompanied at the piano by Martin Yates. The cash bar in the Regis Suite will be open until midnight. Satur day 14 May 2022 9.30 – 10.00 am Assemble 10.00 am Welcome 10.15 am The Mikado : the Victorian Mas terpiece of British opera Martin Yates , chairman of the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society, places Sullivan in his proper place in the musical line from Purcell to Britten. 11.15 am Coffee 11.45 am A Great Savoyard : presentation on the life and work of Darrell Fancourt by his great niece, Deborah Lea. 12.45 pm Light Buffet Lunch : Cash bar open beforehand. 2 .30 pm Matthew Siveter will be interviewed about his musical and professional journey. Questions welcomed at the end. 3.15 to 3. 45 pm Interval tea or coffee 3.45 to 4.45 approx. Paul Taylor of Manchester Society will give a talk on the events leading up to the first production of Iolanthe . 4.45 to 6.30 pm Free time 6.30 pm Evening meal 8.00 pm Celebrity Concert by Leon Berger, Sylvia Clark, Eleanor Jane Moran and Russell Painter accompanied by Tim Smith. 10. 00 pm Tea, coffee and biscuits and a cash bar will be open until midnight. Sunday 15 May 10.0 0 am An Act of Worship featuring Sullivan’s two Te Deums led by Arthur Barrett and John Balls of Norwich G&S Society. 10.50 am approx. Coffee 11.30 am ‘In Duet’: Juliet Montgomery and Aidan Edwards will entertain in song accompanied by David Mackie. Formal close of convention. 1.00 pm Sunday Lunch (3 course) Disperse (“most reluctantly”) Review Review

2027 Convention THE GILBERT & SULLIVAN SOCIETIES‘ CONVENTION at Pinewood Hotel, Wilmslow, SK9 3LF Friday 21 to Sunday 23 May 2027 The Manchester Gilbert & Sullivan Society is delighted to invite delegates from The Gilbert and Sullivan Society and their Affiliated Societies and Organisations to the 24th Gilbert and Sullivan Societies’ Convention. We have worked closely with The Gilbert and Sullivan Society, and are grateful for their help and generous support. The Convention will take place at the Pinewood Hotel in Wilmslow (pictured below). The hotel has a good number of accessible rooms, a lift, landscaped gardens, on-site free parking, and is approximately 2 miles (6-minute taxi ride) from Wilmslow Railway Station, which is located on the West Coast Main Line. The average journey time from London Euston to Wilmslow by train is 2 hours 19 minutes, although on the fastest services it can take just 1 hour 52 minutes. For further information about the hotel: https://pinewood-hotel.co.uk https://aghotels.co.uk/pinewood-hotel/ what3words location: what3words.com/dust.index.barn The cost for the weekend is £395 (single occupancy), £375 (double occupancy) and £230 (non residential). If you wish to attend for a portion of the weekend, then please ask Derrick Lack at dalack@argonet.co.uk for a quotation. Booking forms are available here: We encourage you to complete and return your booking form as soon as possible to ensure a place and to avoid disappointment. The programme is guaranteed to delight, plus there is the opportunity to meet and mix with fellow enthusiasts. Convention highlights include: Matthew Kellett Gala Concert by G&S Society sponsored students Guest speakers including James Hendry , David Mackie and Jim Stebbings . A celebration of the 150th Anniversary of The Sorcerer , including an illustrated history, concert performance by Sale G&S Society , and Songs of Praise from Ploverleigh Church. ‘Pirate’ recordings of the D‘Oyly Carte Opera Company. A G&S Treasurer Hunt. Click here for a copy of the Booking Form Click here for an Interactive Booking Form Click here to see the full programme Home Page

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)