International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival returns to Derbyshire - here's how to get tickets

Fans of Gilbert & Sullivan’s work will be in seventh heaven when a popular festival returns to the Derbyshire stage.
Caroline Kennedy and  Simon Butteriss in HMS Pinafore, presented by the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company at Buxton Opera House at last year's festival. HMS Pinafore will be staged again at this year's festival (photo: Jane Stokes).

HMS Pinafore Cast

The Rt. Hon Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B. (First Lord of the Admiralty) - Simon Butteriss
Captain Corcoran (Commanding H.M.S. Pinafore) - Steven Page
Ralph Rackstraw (Able Seaman) - David Menezes
Dick Deadeye (Able Seaman) - Matthew Kellett
Bill Bobstay (Boatswain) - Matthew Salter
Bob Becket (Boatswain’s Mate – Carpenter) - Stephen Godward
Josephine (the Captain’s Daughter) - Caroline Kennedy
Hebe (Sir Joseph’s First Cousin) - Erin Fflur Williams
Mrs. Cripps (Little Buttercup) (A Portsmouth Bumboat Woman) Mae Heydorn

Chorus 

Nicole Boardman, Alexandra Hazard, Kate Lowe, Juliet Montgomery, Stephanie Poropat, Phoebe Smith

Andrew Armstrong, Thomas Ashdown, Henry Grant Sherwell, Michael Vincent Jones, Joe Partridge, Philip O’Connor

Production Team

Director - Rachel Middle
Conductor - James Hendry
Stage Manager- Keith Drage
Lighting Designer - David Marsden
Repetiteur - Chris Flint
Scenery - Paul Lazell
Wardrobe Superviser - Harriett Ravdin
Wardrobe Assistant - Susan Overvoorde
Costumes - Lichfield CostumesCaroline Kennedy and  Simon Butteriss in HMS Pinafore, presented by the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company at Buxton Opera House at last year's festival. HMS Pinafore will be staged again at this year's festival (photo: Jane Stokes).

HMS Pinafore Cast

The Rt. Hon Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B. (First Lord of the Admiralty) - Simon Butteriss
Captain Corcoran (Commanding H.M.S. Pinafore) - Steven Page
Ralph Rackstraw (Able Seaman) - David Menezes
Dick Deadeye (Able Seaman) - Matthew Kellett
Bill Bobstay (Boatswain) - Matthew Salter
Bob Becket (Boatswain’s Mate – Carpenter) - Stephen Godward
Josephine (the Captain’s Daughter) - Caroline Kennedy
Hebe (Sir Joseph’s First Cousin) - Erin Fflur Williams
Mrs. Cripps (Little Buttercup) (A Portsmouth Bumboat Woman) Mae Heydorn

Chorus 

Nicole Boardman, Alexandra Hazard, Kate Lowe, Juliet Montgomery, Stephanie Poropat, Phoebe Smith

Andrew Armstrong, Thomas Ashdown, Henry Grant Sherwell, Michael Vincent Jones, Joe Partridge, Philip O’Connor

Production Team

Director - Rachel Middle
Conductor - James Hendry
Stage Manager- Keith Drage
Lighting Designer - David Marsden
Repetiteur - Chris Flint
Scenery - Paul Lazell
Wardrobe Superviser - Harriett Ravdin
Wardrobe Assistant - Susan Overvoorde
Costumes - Lichfield Costumes
Caroline Kennedy and Simon Butteriss in HMS Pinafore, presented by the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company at Buxton Opera House at last year's festival. HMS Pinafore will be staged again at this year's festival (photo: Jane Stokes). HMS Pinafore Cast The Rt. Hon Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B. (First Lord of the Admiralty) - Simon Butteriss Captain Corcoran (Commanding H.M.S. Pinafore) - Steven Page Ralph Rackstraw (Able Seaman) - David Menezes Dick Deadeye (Able Seaman) - Matthew Kellett Bill Bobstay (Boatswain) - Matthew Salter Bob Becket (Boatswain’s Mate – Carpenter) - Stephen Godward Josephine (the Captain’s Daughter) - Caroline Kennedy Hebe (Sir Joseph’s First Cousin) - Erin Fflur Williams Mrs. Cripps (Little Buttercup) (A Portsmouth Bumboat Woman) Mae Heydorn Chorus Nicole Boardman, Alexandra Hazard, Kate Lowe, Juliet Montgomery, Stephanie Poropat, Phoebe Smith Andrew Armstrong, Thomas Ashdown, Henry Grant Sherwell, Michael Vincent Jones, Joe Partridge, Philip O’Connor Production Team Director - Rachel Middle Conductor - James Hendry Stage Manager- Keith Drage Lighting Designer - David Marsden Repetiteur - Chris Flint Scenery - Paul Lazell Wardrobe Superviser - Harriett Ravdin Wardrobe Assistant - Susan Overvoorde Costumes - Lichfield Costumes

Buxton Opera House will welcome back the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival this summer.

Renowned as the friendliest opera festival in the world and running from July 30 until August 6, the programme will include three new productions by the acclaimed National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company. The all-time favourite, The Pirates of Penzance, will be directed by Sarah Helsby Hughes and stars James Cleverton as the dashing Pirate King.

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The rarely performed Utopia Limited, directed by Jeff Clarke and starring Richard Suart as King Paramount, will be aired by the company which last stagedthe work 11 years ago. Jeff Clarke said: "What Utopia is really about is the sending up of Victorian society and British morals and mores. And surprisingly, or maybe not surprisingly, not a lot of those have changed, and there is a lot that is still incredibly relevant to our society today".

John Savournin directs a new production of Iolanthe starring Matthew Kellett as the Lord Chancellor. This satirical fantasy conjures the escapism we all need right now with a hilarious story and an abundance of fairies and dim-witted members of the House of Lords.

Jeff Clarke also brings his much celebrated production of Opera della Luna's HMS Pinafore. John Savournin brings Charles Court Opera's Patience and their acclaimed Express G&S - "When Agatha Christie meets Gilbert and Sullivan" parlour production. Forbear! Theatre will perform a new production of The Gondoliers.

Competing amateur groups at the festival in Buxton will include Peak Opera with The Mikado.

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Running alongside the festival is a jam-packed fringe programme including talks and concerts.

Tickets are now on sale online at www.buxtonoperahouse.org.ukor call the box office 01298 72190.

Further information is available at the online site www.gsfestivals.org or call 01422 323252.

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