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The Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Manchester, is an appreciation society of the G&S operas. We hold a variety of events, including talks, concerts and study evenings. Our meetings are held monthly from May to October: some via Zoom and others live in central Manchester. The Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Manchester We are not a performing society, but exist to help anyone who wants to increase their knowledge of the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan, and the lives of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. The aims of the society are to encourage people of all ages to enjoy and develop their knowledge of the world of Gilbert and Sullivan, and to help maintain the integrity of the operas. Join us on Facebook About Our history & commitment Future Events See what's happening Join Us Support us “To get from ‘p rotoplasmal primordial atomic globule’ (as Gilbert and Sullivan put it) to sentient upright modern human has required you to mutate new traits over and over in a precisely timely manner for an exceedingly long while." Bill Bryson – A Short History of Nearly Everything (2003)

About Us FORTHCOMING EVENT: THIS SUNDAY (23rd February 2025) at 2.30 p.m. Cross Street Chapel, Cross Street, MANCHESTER, M2 1NL Sale G&S Society will perform Trial by Jury in celebration of the operetta‘s 150th anniversary, and David Walton, our Chairman, will share some thoughts about this operatic gem. Visitors are welcome: bring a friend! FORTHCOMING EVENT: THIS SUNDAY (30th March 2025) at 2.30 p.m. Cross Street Chapel, Cross Street, MANCHESTER, M2 1NL What are our top three Gilbert and Sullivan Operas? John Coates will encourage us to share our favourites in the G&S canon . Visitors are welcome: bring a friend! Coming soon: Sunday 9th March 2025

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.

The Sorcerer Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index

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”).

Haddon Hall Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index

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.

Rutland Barrington Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index

Past Events 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

Patience Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index

HMS Pinafore Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index

Trial by Jury Click on a photograph to enlarge it. Click here to return to Gallery index