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The Ipswich Gilbert & Sullivan Society
90+ years of excellence!
We are the award-winning Ipswich Gilbert & Sullivan Society! Immerse yourself in the timeless magic of Gilbert and Sullivan (and beyond, embracing many musical genres!) as we celebrate over 90 years of enchanting performances and musical camaraderie.
Discover the warmth and talent that defines our Society - audiences often highlight our joyous performances, and newcomers feel welcomed, inspired and nurtured. With a mix of experienced and budding performers, our inclusive community welcomes adults of all levels of experience.
With rehearsals weekly throughout the year, we have a calendar of annual events starting with our 'Spring Showcase: Opera, Stage & Screen' - a concert run that showcases our versatility in musical genres. Each summer we sing to audiences at Ipswich Music Day and give people a taste of what we do. We are also proud to work with a variety of charities and last year’s concerts helped raise £8,250! Every autumn we perform a fully staged Gilbert and Sullivan operetta – this year being ‘Iolanthe’ – at the Seckford Theatre in Woodbridge, before we finish off the year with a Christmas concert or two!
Known as 'one of Suffolk's friendliest groups', don’t hesitate to join us and experience the joy, diversity, talent and fun that defines the Ipswich Gilbert & Sullivan Society - where we make memories as well as music!
"The love and support between the entire cast is abundantly clear - an absolute joy to watch"
- Audience Member
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FAIRYLAND AT WAR WITH PARLIAMENT!
Step into a world of enchantment and satire and join the award-winning Ipswich Gilbert & Sullivan Society at the Seckford Theatre, Woodbridge, this autumn for their fun-filled production of Iolanthe - a whimsical tale of fairies, politics, and love, featuring the sparkling wit of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan’s glorious score.
Twenty five years after being exiled for the crime of marrying a mortal, the beautiful fairy Iolanthe is granted a pardon by the Queen of the Fairies. Meanwhile, Iolanthe’s half-human, half-fairy son, the handsome shepherd Strephon is deeply in love with Phyllis, a pretty shepherdess. But there is a serious obstacle to their future happiness - all the members of the House of Lords, including the wily Lord Chancellor, are in love with Phyllis, too. Fortunately, the Queen of the Fairies uses her magical powers to send Strephon into Parliament with a manifesto to reform the House of Lords. The Fairies are jubilant, the Peers are horrified.
Chaotically comical events ensue as Parliament is rocked to its foundations when Strephon takes control. Disaster threatens, though, when Iolanthe is forced to reveal a secret she has nursed for 25 years. A happy ending can only be guaranteed with a judicial intervention by the Lord Chancellor himself and a large dose of fairy magic.
‘Iolanthe’ is brought to you by a talented cast of local performers with a full chorus and 13 piece orchestra.
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©Copyright. All rights reserved. Stage photography by Mike Kwasniak.
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