National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera heading for Buxton

Three brand new productions – HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado

From Tuesday 25^th July – Saturday 29^th July

The National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company is getting ready for its 2017 season of Gilbert & Sullivan delights at Buxton Opera House.  This unique company started life in the 1990s at the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival and since those early days, it has developed into one of the world’s finest professional Gilbert and Sullivan performing groups.

This year the line-up includes many new faces – and others who are making a welcome return to Buxton. Vivian Coates is the founder and artistic director of Lyric Opera in Ireland and brought numerous award-winning productions to the Festival.  He will direct a brand-new production of The Pirates of Penzance.  Michael McCaffery (Old Vic Company, National Theatre of Great Britain, Glyndebourne and the Bayreuth Festival) has directed for many of the world’s leading theatres and directs a brand-new production of The Mikado.  Donald Maxwell returns to direct HMS Pinafore and maestro Andrew Nicklin takes over the baton for each of the performances.

A fantastic cast including Richard Gauntlett (Major General, Sir Joseph and Ko-Ko); Toby Stafford-Allen (Pirate King, Pish Tush and Captain Corcoran); Simon Wilding (Sergeant of Police, Pooh Bah and Dick Deadeye); Mae Heydorn (Katisha, Buttercup, and Ruth); Emma Walsh (Josephine and Mabel) and Natalie Montakhab (Yum Yum).

And another treat in store at the Opera House is a performance of Iolanthe performed by local favourites Derby G&S Society and Trent Opera on Thursday 27 July.

Be prepared for W S Gilbert’s razor-sharp wit, Sullivan’s glorious music and lots and lots of laughter.

Tickets are priced from £18 to £36 and are available from the Opera House Box Office call: 01298 72190 or visit www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk

Notes to the Editor – Performance dates:

Tues 25 July – HMS Pinafore
Wed 26 July – HMS Pinafore and The Mikado
Thurs 27 July – Iolanthe (Derby G&S and Trent Opera)
Fri 28 July – The Mikado
Saturday 29 July – The Pirates of Penzance (2 performances)