National G&S Opera Company Director
Iolanthe and The Pirates of Penzance
I’m delighted to be back with the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company to direct The Pirates of Penzance and Iolanthe – two of my favourites, that are full to the brim with “unmingled joy”! But of course, bringing any theatrical production to life is a serious undertaking – and this is especially true of comic opera – particularly the works of Gilbert & Sullivan.
Victorian operettas were profoundly influenced by pantomime, a vibrant feature of English theatre. Gilbert’s background in pantomime shaped his Savoy Opera libretti, but his ‘topsy-turvy’ plots and laugh-out-loud jokes should never be mistaken for flippancy. Gilbert believed in uncovering truth through comedy. You must believe in the characters and their situation – the beginnings of what we now call ‘situational comedy’ – or ‘sit-com’. And it’s this genuine dedication, combined with razor-sharp wit and Sullivan’s musical brilliance, that gives their work its unique charm – a masterful blend of biting yet joyful satire and heartfelt drama. It’s why we still love them all with affection unspeakable, as Frederic says in Pirates.
John has been a featured artist at the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival for many years, making his debut at the second festival in 1995 as a child in the chorus of a youth production of The Mikado. He is now considered one of the leading G&S specialists in the UK, working with national companies such as English National Opera, Opera North, Welsh National Opera, Opera Holland Park and Scottish Opera. As Artistic Director of the acclaimed Charles Court Opera, John will present their fabulous production of The Mikado at the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival on Friday, 8 August, marking the company’s 20th year.