International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival facts for kids
The International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival is a fun event held every summer in England. It was started in 1994 by Ian Smith and his son Neil. This festival lasts for two or three weeks. It celebrates the operas (musical plays) created by Gilbert and Sullivan. Thousands of people come from all over the world to watch and perform.
The Festival used to be in Buxton, Derbyshire, from 1994 to 2013. Then, from 2014 to 2022, it moved to Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Usually, there was still a week of shows in Buxton before the main festival in Harrogate. In 2023, the whole Festival returned to Buxton. You can see both professional and amateur (non-professional) shows here. The Festival has its own professional group called the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company. Amateur groups from all over the world also perform on the main stage. There are also many other smaller events, like a competition for university groups, talks, and a market for souvenirs.
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History of the Festival
The Festival was started in 1994 by an English businessman named Ian Smith. His family, including his wife Janet and son Neil, still run it today. They want to keep the works of Gilbert and Sullivan alive and help people learn about them. They also hope to bring G&S and other performing arts back into schools in Britain.
The founders believe that Gilbert and Sullivan's works are a very important part of Britain's history. They especially love how the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company used to perform these shows. This famous company performed Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy Operas for over 100 years! But in 1982, the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company closed. Ian Smith was very upset that the English Arts Council didn't help the company. This feeling made him decide to start the Festival.
The Festival was held in Buxton, England, every year from 1994 to 2013. They also tried holding extra festival weeks in other places. These included Eastbourne, England, and even in the United States, in Philadelphia, Berkeley, California, and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In 2014, the main part of the Festival moved to Harrogate, England. It stayed there each summer, but still had a week of professional shows in Buxton before the Harrogate part began.
The Festival didn't happen in 2020. This was because Harrogate was helping with the Covid-19 pandemic. During this time, the Festival started an online service. It showed recorded performances from past festivals. In 2020, the Festival also received money from the government's Culture Recovery Fund. This helped it survive the shutdown. The Festival started again in 2021. It continued with a week in Buxton and almost two weeks in Harrogate until 2022. In 2023, the whole Festival returned to Buxton.
What Happens at the Festival?
Every summer, starting in late July or early August, the Festival runs for two or three weeks. There are G&S operas every night and weekend afternoon. Plus, there are many daytime activities. Some years, the Festival has sold over 25,000 tickets! Up to 2,000 performers have taken part.
Sky Arts described the Festival as "one of the most colourful, melodic and joyous festivals." It celebrates the clever words of W. S. Gilbert and the amazing music of Arthur Sullivan. It is the world's biggest event for the Savoy operas. The Festival has its own professional orchestra. This orchestra plays music for the main stage performances.
The Competition
The Festival began mostly as a competition. Amateur G&S groups from Britain and around the world competed. On weeknights, the best non-professional groups compete for the "International Champions" title. Some groups come every year. Others, especially from far away places like North America or Australia, might only visit once. Some groups even meet and practice entirely at the Festival!
The day of a performance is very busy for amateur groups. They move into the theatre early in the morning. They have a quick lighting check and one rehearsal with the Festival orchestra. Then they perform in the evening. After the show, they pack up right away.
In the past, a professional judge would give feedback right after each show. They would score each performance. Awards were given at the end of the Festival. The first Festival in 1994 was won by the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Maine, USA. The Derby Gilbert & Sullivan Company has won the first prize more than any other group (six times). The South Anglia Savoy Players won five times. Festival Productions from Ireland won three years in a row. Awards were also given to individual performers, directors, and music directors.
The internet group SavoyNet has competed every year since 1997. They won in 2013 and 2018. They are the only group to have performed all 14 G&S operas at the Festival. After the pandemic, the live judging stopped. But cash prizes are still given to the champions and runners-up.
There's also a "Unifest" competition for university groups. This usually happens in the afternoon. The Festival organizers also put on an adult "Festival production" most years. There's also a "Youth Production" for performers aged 9 to 19. Since 2015, they have also had a "Bus Pass Opera" production for performers over 60.
Professional Shows
As the Festival grew, it started to have more professional shows. These are performed by groups like the Carl Rosa Opera Company and the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players. The Festival's own group is the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company. This company has featured many famous G&S performers.
Sky Arts calls these performers "some of the UK’s finest." The National G&S Opera Company is known for its strong actors and lively performances. They bring fresh ideas to roles that many people know well. Their shows often have great staging and lighting. The chorus (singing group) is also usually outstanding.
The National G&S Opera Company is special because it has performed all 13 of the existing Savoy Operas. In 2011, The Daily Telegraph enjoyed their lively show of Utopia, Limited. This opera is rarely performed professionally. In 2012, the Festival put on the first full professional show of The Grand Duke in Britain since the 1800s.
The company started touring its shows from June to August each summer. They perform in several towns and cities, including Buxton. A review of their 2014 tour praised their show of The Pirates of Penzance. It said the company had "strong production values, a great orchestra and first class singing." The shows look wonderful with beautiful sets and costumes. The whole cast is full of energy and clearly enjoys themselves.
Since 2015, the National G&S Opera Company has usually put on four shows at the Festival each summer. They give up to 16 performances. Other professional companies usually give a few performances each. In 2018, for the Festival's 25th anniversary, the company performed six shows. This included the first professional show of Haddon Hall since the 1800s.
Where the Festival Takes Place
All the competition shows and weekend professional performances happen on the Festival's main stage. From 1994 to 2013, this was the Buxton Opera House. It has 900 seats and was designed by Frank Matcham. From 2014 to 2022, the main stage was the 1,100-seat Royal Hall in Harrogate. This is another theatre designed by Matcham. In 2023, all main stage performances returned to the Buxton Opera House. These shows are almost always accompanied by the "National Festival Orchestra."
The Festival also has many smaller performances and activities. In Buxton, these happen at the 360-seat Pavilion Arts Centre. In Harrogate, some events were held at the 500-seat Harrogate Theatre and other places around town.
These "fringe" activities include shows, workshops, and talks. Many of these are given by members of the original D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. There's also a late-night Festival Club. Here, you can watch cabaret shows or join a G&S singalong. Some years, there are scholarly talks. You can also see rare works by Gilbert or Sullivan alone. There is a G&S memorabilia fair too. Here, collectors can buy and sell recordings, DVDs, books, and other items. Fringe events also include concerts and productions of lesser-known works from the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
Why the Festival is Special
The Festival brings together G&S fans and performers from all over the world. People can see shows by groups from different countries. You can see both traditional and modern performances. Experts on G&S can also share their knowledge with many enthusiasts.
Buxton is a lovely spa town in the Peak District. It's a great place for summer opera festivals. There are good places to stay and eat. You can also visit nearby castles like Peveril Castle. There are also grand homes like Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall. You can also explore limestone caves like Poole's Cavern. Because Buxton is a small town, visitors and performers can easily meet and chat.
People often say the Festival has a wonderful, friendly atmosphere. Everyone comes together like a family. Many people return year after year. The Festival also tries to raise money to help bring G&S back into British schools. The Festival has been shown on several British TV shows. It has also been featured in documentaries like Oh Mad Delight.
Recordings
The Festival organizers make recordings of most of the amateur and professional shows. These are available on DVD. Some of the Festival's professional shows can also be found on CD.
Groups That Have Performed at the Festival
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See also
- List of opera festivals
