Friends

Become a Friend

Why do we need your support?

Why do we need your support?

The support of our Friends is essential for the continuation and success of the Festival. The generosity of our members allows us to plan confidently for the future.

In 2024, Festival visitors enjoyed a fantastic new sound system at all our events in St John’s Church and the evening Festival Club. This system, kindly donated by the Friends, greatly enhanced the overall experience for our visitors.

Over the years, the Friends have contributed thousands of pounds to support our important youth initiatives, the university competition – UNIFest, and helped stage our ever-popular Bus Pass Opera. Without the Friends, the Festival simply would not exist today.

It’s a great time to Join!

There’s never been a better time to join! For the first time in many years, the trustees have made the difficult decision to raise membership costs, effective from 1 January 2025. So, be sure to submit your application before the end of the year. You’ll enjoy early booking, ticket discounts, and a wide range of other benefits outlined below.

But the Friends is more than just a fundraising group. It truly is a community of like-minded individuals who love Gilbert & Sullivan and the Festival and want it to thrive for generations to come.

We hope we’ve encouraged you to join us.

Thank you for your support!

Young people performing
Young people performing
Young people performing

Festival Friend

Single membership £35; Joint £50

  • Priority Draw number 3 for discounted tickets and the best seats
  • Emails and newsletters with member offers and advance announcements
  • Recognition of your support in the Festival Souvenir Programme
  • Single Friends get 1 x £1 per ticket off per Opera House show, Joint Friends get 2 x £1 per ticket off per Opera House show

Festival Partner

Single membership £350; Joint £500

  • Priority Draw No 1 for discounted tickets and the best seats
  • 2 free tickets to the Festival Youth Production
  • Free Festival Souvenir programme value £12
  • Pass for free entry into the Festival Club in Buxton
  • Emails and newsletters with member offers and advance announcements
  • Free member activities at the Festival
  • Recognition of your support in the Festival Souvenir Programme
  • Single Partners get 1 x £1 per ticket off per Opera House show, Joint Partners get 2 x £1 per ticket off per Opera House show

Benefactor

Single membership £100; Joint £150

  • Priority Draw No 2 for discounted tickets and the best seats
  • Free Festival Souvenir programme value £12
  • Pass for free entry into the Festival Club in Buxton
  • Emails and newsletters with member offers and advance announcements
  • Free member activities at the Festival
  • Recognition of your support in the Festival Souvenir Programme
  • Single Benefactors get 1 x £1 per ticket off per Opera House show, Joint Benefactors get 2 x £1 per ticket off per Opera House show

Life Member

Single membership £1000; Joint £1500

  • Priority Draw No 1 for discounted tickets and the best seats
  • Free Festival Souvenir programme value £12
  • Pass for free entry into the Festival Club in Buxton
  • Emails and newsletters with member offers and advance announcements
  • Free member activities at the Festival
  • Recognition of your support in the Festival Souvenir Programme
  • Single Life Members get 1 x £1 per ticket off per Opera House show, Joint Life Members get 2 x £1 per ticket off per Opera House show