The National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company which is celebrating its 25th year as the resident professional company for the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival is to start a new tour at Buxton Opera House.
There will be five new productions in the Derbyshire town, beginning with an all-time favourite, The Pirates of Penzance, on Tuesday 31 July and Saturday 5 August. Richard Gauntlett directs and also takes to the stage as the dotty Major General.
Ruddigore will be in the hands of director Vivien Coates and choreographer Mary McDonagh. It will be performed on Wednesday 1 August and there will be a matinée on Saturday 5 August.
The first professional production for more than 120 years of the Sullivan-Grundy piece Haddon Hall will be staged on Thursday 2 August. A dramatisation of a 19th century legend based around the famous Derbyshire hall, Haddon Hall will be directed by Sarah Helsby Hughes.
There will be a double bill on Saturday 4 August of Trial by Jury, directed by the company’s artistic director Ian Smith, and The Sorcerer, directed by John Savournin, which “promises a fresh look at this rarely performed gem”.
Festival musical director Andrew Nicklin will conduct The Pirates of Penzance and Haddon Hall with James Hendry holding the baton for the other three productions. The National Festival Orchestra will accompany all the performances.