- June 2008
"The Grand Duke" was the final collaboration of Gilbert & Sullivan and for the last century it has been largely overlooked for the last century on account of its experimental score and rather convoluted plot; nonetheless the plot is full of many splendid characters and delightfully theatrical hysterics, while Sullivan's sparkling score contains many gems suggesting a shift towards the more Viennese style of operetta-writing.
This May Week we will be reviving this last great opus, (not performed in Cambridge for many many years) in a semi-staged concert performance (followed, as ever, by our annual garden party), and we are looking for a talented cast to bring this exciting show to life. Telling the story of a humble actor who decides to take over the world and ends up with four wives in the process, with the help of sausage rolls, statutory duels and the game of roulette, "The Grand Duke" is definitely not to be missed!
- February 2008
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE is possibly Gilbert & Sullivan's most enduringly popular collaboration. Telling the story of Frederic, a Pirate apprentice, who is desperate to overcome his "sense of duty", defeat the pirates and win his beloved Mabel, the show features the swashbuckling Pirate King, the bumbling chorus of Policemen and of course that very model of a Modern Major General! The Major General's song is just one of the 'big hits' from the show, along with "A Policeman's Lot is not an happy One!", "With Cat-like Tread", "Poor Wand'ring One" and many others!
- November 2007
This term's exciting Freshers' Show is RUDDIGORE, one of G&S's lesser-performed but still immensely enjoyable collaborations. A witch's curse condemns each Baronet of Ruddigore to commit a crime a day or perish- desperate to avoid this fate, Sir Rutheven Murgatroyd hides out as Cornish farmer Sir Robin Oakapple to try and win the heart of his beloved, Rose Maybud- but his secret is only safe for so long. The show features some of Gilbert's most loved characters, including Mad Margaret and the sailor Dick Dauntless, as well as a male chorus of ghosts and a female chorus of professional bridesmaids, and some of Sullivan's best songs, such as "When the Night Wind Howls" and the patter trio "It really doesn't matter."
- September 2007
The very first of Gilbert and Sullivan's big successes, HMS Pinafore, or The Lass That Loved a Sailor, depicts the adventures of Captain Corcoran as he tries to persuade his wilful daughter, the beautiful Josephine, not to marry Ralph, a common sailor below her station, while simultaneously attempting to persuade Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the Admiralty (with sisters, cousins and aunts always in tow) that marrying below his station, to Josephine, would indeed be an honour to all involved. After a planned elopement, an excess of mad plotting and of course much hornpiping, they all find out love may indeed level all ranks, but not as much as that.
- June 2007
Sandy Wilson's hilarious musical comedy is the perfect May Week show: short, witty and absurdly tongue-in-cheek! Polly is young, beautiful, sweet - and very much alone. Forbidden to have a boy friend by her domineering millionaire father, she whiles away the hours at her finishing school in France. However, after meeting Tony, suddenly the forthcoming Carnival Ball looks more tempting... until the unexpected attendance of her father himself! Will Polly ever find true love?
This one and a half hours of pure pleasure in a sunny garden features a cast of Cambridge's most talented actors, and array of splendid 1920's costumes, and a host of wonderful songs and dance routines.
The best possible way to spend a lazy afternoon between punts and balls!
- February 2007
Arguably the most popular opera ever written, Gilbert and Sullivan's most enduring work continues to delight audiences spanning the world. Replete with biting satire and social commentary which remain hilariously relevant to modern audiences, The Mikado is a tale of love and decapitation set in a typically topsy-turvy Japan, with a score packed full of some of the duo's best loved songs.
Disguised as a wandering minstrel, the Mikado's son, Nanki-Poo falls in love with the beautiful Yum-Yum. However, each of them has a rival for their affections - the dragon-like Katisha and the self-important Ko-Ko. In a world where executionees become executioners and flirting is punishable by death, can their love survive?
- November–December 2006
"Iolanthe" is one of Gilbert & Sullivan's most exciting operas; set between the warring worlds of Fairyland and the House of Lords, this production promises to be visually stunning, dramatically gripping, musically charming, but above all, the most fun show of the year!
- September 2006
After the sell-out performances of Iolanthe last year, the G&S society is returning to Cornwall for its summer tour to the Minack Theatre in Cornwall - the famous and fantastic outdoor theatre hewn into the cliffs at Porthcurno, near Lands End. This year's production will be Princess Ida. Inspired by our very own Girton College, this thrilling musical, based on Tennyson's celebrated poem The Princess, takes a satirical romp through the women's education movement to include knights who strip to music, three cross-dressing noblemen and a bevy of repressed and beautiful maidens (the best kind), all set across the vivid landscape of two incompetent, warring Kings.
- June 2006
- March 2006
It's a Gilbert and Sullivan jollification! A night of merrymaking, music and laughter in celebration of the original dynamic duo. All proceeds from the performance will be donated to the ADC Theatre Redevelopment Appeal.
The programme for this very special evening begins with a rare performance of Sullivan's 'The Prodigal Son', followed by a G&S gala featuring soloists from the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and cabaret stars Kit & The Widow!
Tickets are £20 (£10 for students) including souvenir programme and interval drinks, or £40 including champagne buffet reception at 6.30pm, reserved seating, souvenir programme and interval drinks. Thanks to the generous donations of our sponsors, the entire cost of your ticket goes straight to the appeal.
To book, please call the ADC Theatre Box Office on 01223 300085
The event is funded by the Gilbert & Sullivan Society, with the help of our generous sponsors:
The Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning, Piggott Black Bear printers and Best Balloons
www.guildhallragbag.org.uk
- February 2006
- November–December 2005
- November 2005
"A bittersweet and poignant drama set in a beautiful Victorian garden, 'Sweethearts' is a little jewel of a play that touches the heart."
- September 2005
- June 2005
This year's G&S Society May Week performance and garden party will feature a hilarious and witty one-act operetta by Sir Arthur Sullivan, entitled 'The Zoo'. It contains Lords in disguise, the Great British Public, bounteous sweets and candy, and even a bear pit - what more could you possibly want?!
The performance will be followed by a gorgeous Victorian-style garden party for performers and audience.
There will also be an additional 'touring' performance on the evening of Friday 24th June at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, which is London Zoo's sister park, in Bedfordshire. We have been invited to perform this highly appropriate piece as a part of their founders' evening celebrations. There is likely to be plenty of time during the evening to go and see all the lovely animals too! (http://www.zsl.org/whipsnade/
- March 2005
This will be the society's Lent Term Arts Theatre production, running the week beginning Monday 28th February, and is arguably the society's most ambitious project in recent history.
The show uses the Greek myth of Orpheus and Euridice as its basis, and transforms this story into a fabulous riot of music, comedy, colour and glamour! The show features the crazy gods of Mount Olympus and the spooky, seductive Underworld, and is bejewelled with sparkling musical items, to include the world-famous Can-can!
- February 2005
This newly-written operetta was rapturously received when it was first performed in an abridged version in May Week last year. Now it is back by popular demand, and appears for the first time complete and unabridged. Mark Wainwright's dazzlingly witty Gilbertian libretto is set to music and fully orchestrated by Roland Anderson in a sparkling classical pastiche, full of melodies Mozart would be proud of.
- December 2004
- October–November 2004
The G&S Society's May Week rendition of Gilbert and Sullivan's first collaborative work reprised for three nights at the Cambridge Union!
The supercilious Edwin has jilted poor Angelina at the altar and run off with another woman! Naturally she has him tried at the nearest court for breach of promise, with an army of ageing bridesmaids in tow. Featuring a Ruffian, a Man of Learning, a Simple-Minded Usher and as many Respectable Chaps as a maiden could want. Will the Defendent convince us of his innocence? Will Angelina get her man? And just how good is the Judge?
- September 2004
- August 2004
by Stephen Sondheim
in its Fringe premiere, performed by Cambridge University Broadway Savoyards
(a collaboration between CU G&S Society and CU Musical Theatre Society)
- May 2004
- March 2004
- December 2003
- September 2003
- June 2003
- March 2003
- November 2002
- September 2002
- March 2002
- March 2002
by Leonard Bernstein
- February 2002
Freshers' Show
- September 2001
- February 2001
version by Professor Michael Irwin of University of Kent
- November 2000
by Stephen Sondheim
Book by Hugh Wheeler
- September 2000
