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

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.

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

Programme for the 2016–17 (85th) Season Tuesday 4th Octo ber 2016 at 2.30 pm “They sing choruses in public.” Concert by members of Manchester University Gilbert & Sullivan Society (MUGSS). Tuesday 1st November 2016 at 7.15 pm “Rend with songs the air above” Concert by students of the Royal Northern College of Music from Offenbach‘s La Vie Parisienne – a taster of their December production – and a selection of Gilbert & Sullivan items. The Sh eila Taylor meeting. Sunday 4th December 2016 at 2.30 pm “In his own melodious way!” Co ncert by Joseph Sho velton (tenor). [Professional engagements permitting.] The Harold Sumner meeting. Admi ssion: members £5, visitors £7. Sunday 15th January 2017 at 2.30 pm “Is all this true?” “D‘Oyly Carte: the inside story” – Roberta Morrell will enter tain us with background stories from interviews for her book of the same name. Tuesd ay 7th February 2017 at 7.15 pm “It is a pretty picture” A talk by Raymond Walker on D‘Oyly Carte backcloths and scenery through the decades, illustrated by some beautiful photos. He and David Skelly are working on a book on this subject. Tuesday 7th March 2017 at 7.15 pm “Told in ‘song and story’” Paul Taylor will instruct us again with one of his opera studies – The Yeoman of the Guard – this time. The N orman Beckett meeting. Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd April 2017 “And all day long our lives would be a song” Convention for members of all Affiliated G&S Societies at the Alma Lodge Hotel, Stockport. Tuesday 9th May 2017 at 7.15 pm “And now, my Lords, to the business of the day” Annual General Meeting plus entertainment.

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

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

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

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.

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

Programme for the 2025–26 (94th) Season Sunday 5th October 2025 at 2.30 pm "I have a pretty turn for anecdote" Our President David Mackie will be in conversation with David Walton and will enchant us with some piano music . It is 50 years this year since he joined the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. The Norman Beckett meeting. Sunday 9th November 2025 at 2.30 pm "let the air with joy be laden" Our member David Goulden has organised a concert for us of professional young singers he taught when they were at school . The Sheila Taylor meeting. Tuesday 2nd December 2025 on Zoom at 7.30 pm "wher ever that isle may be" Andy Hill, the present owner of D’Oyly Carte Island on the Thames, will tell us about restoring the house and his plans for the future. The Harold Sumner meeting. Tuesday 13th January 2026 on Zoom at 7.30 pm "Happy to meet you all once more" Jane Metcalfe, principal mezzo-soprano with the D’Oyly Carte 1975 to 1979, will stroll down memory lane and tell us some of her activities since then. Tuesday 10th February 2026 on Zoom at 7.30 pm "Red and Yellow! Primary Colours! Oh, South Kensington!" Our member Raymond Walker, co-author of the scenic book, Backdrop to a Legend : The Scenic Design of the D‘Oyly Carte Opera Company , full of excellent images of D’Oyly Carte sets, has fresh historic and interesting Savoy photos to show. Sunday 1st March 2026 at 2.30 pm "he'll give you any further information" Our member Paul Taylor will entertain us with another of his popular evenings at an opera, The Mikado this time. Paul investigates the time in which it was written and details of interest about it. Sunday 19th April 2026 at 2.30 pm "with laughing song and merry dance" CELEBRITY CONCERT WITH PHOEBE SMITH. Phoebe studied at the Royal Academy of Music, and performs regularly with the National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company. Accompanied on the piano by David Wheeler. Admission: members £5, visitors £7. Tuesday 19th May 2026 on Zoom at 7.30 pm "What ought we to do?" Annual General Meeting.

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.