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2027 Convention The 24th Gilbert & Sullivan Convention will take place from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 May 2027 at the Pinewood Hotel in Wilmslow (pictured below). The hotel has a good number of accessible rooms, a lift, on-site free parking, and is approx. 3.2 miles (9-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 likely cost for the weekend will be £395 (single occupancy) , £375 (double occupancy) and £230 (non residential) . Provisional timetable: Summer 2026 — Programme and booking forms to be published. 1 April 2027 — Convention booking deadline date.

About Us The Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Manchester , 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 Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Manchester 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.

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.

Programme for the 2015–16 (84th) Season Tuesday 6th Octo ber 2015 at 7.30 pm “Do you hear that? Are you not delighted?” Arthur Barrett of Norwich G&S Society will entertain us with unusual or rare recordings from his large collection. Tuesday 3rd November 2015 at 7.30 pm “When I was a lad I served a term...” Mike Leigh, well-known film and theatre Director and writer, local lad and former member of this Society as a youth, will talk about his view of Gilbert and Sullivan. [P rofessional engagements permitting.] Prior booking essential: £7 for visitors The Harold Sumner meeting. Tuesday 1st December 2015 at 7.30 pm “everything is interesting, tell us, tell us all about it” James Hendry, a very talented young pianist, accompanist and conductor from the RNCM will talk about promoting G&S and will entertain us on the pian o. [Professional engagements permitting.] The Norman Beckett meeting . T uesday 12th January 2016 at 7.30 pm “Lift your song on high, all comers.” Some members of Sale Gilbert and Sullivan Society will entertain us right royally as they have done before. Always an enjoyable evening. Sunday 31st January 2016 at 2.30 pm “On each of us thy learning shed.” A talk, illustrated at the piano, by tenor and singing teacher, Oliver White. We have enjoyed his many performances at Buxton/Harrogate G&S Festivals and his talk to the 2012 Convention. [Professional engagements permitting.] Admission: members £5, visitors £7. The Sheila Taylor meeting. Tuesday 1st March 2016 at 7.30 pm “born in leap year...” A Frederic's birthday party; amusing ourselves and enjoying bring-and-share refreshments. Sunday 3rd April 2016 at 2.30 pm “Everything is a source of fun.” Concert by soprano Ruth Betteridge who trained at the RNCM and has performed in the professional G&S Festival company. [Professional engagements permitting.] Admission: members £5, visitors £7. Tuesday 3rd May 2016 at 7.30 pm “What ought we to do?” Annual General Meeting plus entertainment. Review

Past Events 2025–2026 Programme 2024–2025 Programme 2023–2024 Programme 2022–2023 Programme 2022 Convention 2021–2022 Programme 2020–2021 Programme 2019–2020 Programme 2018–2019 Programme 2017–2018 Programme 2017 Convention 2016–2017 Programme 2015–2016 Programme 2014–2015 Programme 2013–2014 Programme 2012–2013 Programme 2011–2012 Programme 2010–2011 Programme 2009–2010 Programme

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.

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

Contact Us Get in Touch The Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Manchester welcomes your enquiries. For information, please contact, as appropriate, one of the society’s officials... New Members/ Publicity Officer Secretary Treasurer PAUL TAYLOR email: enquiries@manchestergands.org.uk JEAN DUFTY email: secretary@manchestergands.org.uk DERRICK LACK email: treasurer@manchestergands.org.uk Alternatively, use this contact form... First Name Last Name Your Email Subject Type Your Message Here Send Message Thank You!

Upcoming Events Tuesday 19th May 2026 on Zoom at 7.30 pm "What ought we to do?" Annual General Meeting. CLICK HERE FOR OTHER EVENTS

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”).

Iolanthe 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