Don’t Miss Simon Butteriss at the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival The very model of a modern Major-General! Watch Simon Butteriss perform the iconic “Major-General’s Song” in this exclusive clip from John Savournin’s acclaimed production of The Pirates of Penzance. Then experience the full production live at the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, 1–15 August 2026. It’s one of…
Smiles on deck as the HMS Pinafore cast rehearsals continue. Principals Sir Joseph Porter K.C.B. (First Lord of the Admiralty) // Simon Butteriss Captain Corcoran (Commanding HMS Pinafore) // Ben McAteer Ralph Rackstraw (Able Seaman) // David Webb Dick Deadeye (Able Seaman) // Mark Saberton Bill Bobstay (Boatswain) // Paul Sheehan Bob Becket (Carpenter’s Mate) // Alex Peart Josephine (the Captain’s…
Director // Jeff Clarke Musical Director // John Andrews Principals The Mikado of Japan // Ben McAteer Nanki-Poo // David Webb Ko-Ko (Lord High Executioner of Titipu) // Simon Butteriss Pooh-Bah (Lord High Everything Else) // Grant Doyle Pish-Tush (A Noble Lord) // Giles Davies Yum-Yum // Eleanor Sanderson-Nash Pitti-Sing // Martha Jones Peep-Bo //…
Director // John Savournin Musical Director // James Hendry Principals Major-General Stanley // Simon Butteriss The Pirate King // Ben McAteer Samuel (his Lieutenant) // Paul Sheehan Frederic (the Pirate Apprentice) // Alex Aldren Sergeant of Police // Mark Saberton Mabel // Camilla Kerslake Edith // Grace O’Malley Kate // Mila Johannsen Isabel // Jasmine…
Audiences at this year’s International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival (1-15 August 2026) will have the rare opportunity to hear three long-lost songs from Iolanthe, recently discovered in the British Library by Gilbert & Sullivan researcher Marc Shepherd. The songs had been presumed lost since the nineteenth century until Shepherd uncovered them in a manuscript score that…
Conductor: James Hendry Director: John SavourninRevival Director: Merrie Holden Performed by the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company, featuring the National Festival Orchestra. “The very model of perfection!”, the Daily Mail said in its five star review. Directed in 2025 by John Savournin, this revival of last year’s five-star production is a fabulous, fun-filled production with an outstanding cast. John is…
Conductor: John Andrews Director: Jeff Clarke Performed by the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company, featuring the National Festival Orchestra. This year’s National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company production of The Mikado promises a sumptuous and stylish staging from Jeff Clarke. Set within the world of a flamboyant fashion designer’s atelier, the familiar topsy-turvy tale is reimagined with bold creativity…
Director – Sarah Helsby Hughes Conductor – James Hendry Performed by the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company, featuring the National Festival Orchestra. Director Sarah Helsby Hughes is a familiar and much-loved face at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival. Sarah was Artistic Director of Heritage Opera from 2011 to 2025 and has directed and designed over forty opera productions…
There is never a dull moment at the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, and our jam-packed Fringe programme ensures there is something to enjoy morning, noon, and night. Here is your typical day at the Festival in Buxton:
