The Gilbert and Sullivan Convention, Manchester 2027
We are delighted to announce that Manchester Society are organising an exciting Convention for the Gilbert and Sullivan Society and our Affiliates in May next year.
The Convention will run over the weekend of 21st – 23rd May and be held at Pinewood Hotel in Wilmslow, a 4 star Best Western Hotel set in landscaped gardens. The Hotel is easily reached by car or train, with Wilmslow being on the main London to Manchester Line. It is also accessible with a lift to upstairs.
Taking into account that 2027 marks the 150th anniversary of the first performance of The Sorcerer, this will feature in the events and there will be emphasis on young people who perform Gilbert and Sullivan.
Full details will appear in our summer edition of the Gilbert & Sullivan News and on the Manchester Society website shortly.
www.gandsmanc.org or www.gilbertandsullivan
Congratulations to Julian Light Opera (Ealing Affiliated Society)
JLOS has received three NODA London awards at the regional awards event (June 2026). The London region covers London and parts of Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Essex and Kent.
Their production of The Gondoliers, directed by Zena Wigram with Jamie Naylor as MD, won the Dorothy Lawson award for the best production of a G&S, opera or operetta.
Alex Kirstukas and Ben Hancox-Lachman, (Giuseppi and Marco Palmieri) won the London region Malcolm Rose award for the best male character in a G&S, opera or operetta.
In addition, the Society won the District 2 Flame award for inspirational contribution to the pursuit of excellence in theatre. (District 2 covers an area of west and north-west London). The award citation reads "for consistently performing G&S and operetta to a high standard over many years. They are to be congratulated in (sic) keeping the flame of this genre alive and thriving and in particular for bringing imaginative twists to their productions to keep them interesting and fresh for new audiences." Thank you to Fraser Grant, Jessica Dalton and Zena Wigram for your wonderful productions.
JLOS will be producing The Pirates of Penzance from the 8th - 10th October this year at The Questors Theatre.